May Day 2026, Momentum for the State to Draw Closer to Workers

This year’s International Labour Day commemoration is seen as carrying a different tone. Azis Subekti, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Gerindra Party faction, stated that the event centred at the National Monument (Monas) with the planned presence of President Prabowo Subianto serves as an important signal of the state’s closeness to workers. “Every 1 May, we are reminded that work is not merely an economic activity, but the foundation of human dignity. May Day is not a ceremony, but a moment when workers’ voices seek their place in the public sphere,” Azis told the media in Jakarta on Saturday (1/5/2026). He assessed the decision to centre the commemoration at Monas as not merely symbolic, but also political. “Monas has long been synonymous with the representation of power. When workers are present there, especially with the president’s attendance, it means the state chooses to be seen—and ready to be tested,” he said. Nevertheless, Azis reminded that the government’s physical presence is not enough to address the recurring labour issues. “The history of public policy always shows that the most important presence is not the visible one, but the one that works,” he stressed. According to him, labour issues in Indonesia remain caught in the tug-of-war between investment interests and worker protection. “The state wants to maintain economic competitiveness, but workers face the reality of inadequate wages, precarious employment status, and inconsistent protection,” he explained.