May Day 2026: Workers to Surround DPR Building, Senayan, and Monas
May Day 2026: Workers to Surround DPR Building, Senayan, and Monas
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day 2026 is certain to take place in two separate streams. The Indonesian Confederation of Trade Unions (KSPI), along with supporters of the Labour Party, has chosen to hold a separate action at the House of Representatives (DPR RI) up to Istora Senayan, instead of joining the commemoration at Monas.
KSPI President and Labour Party figure, Said Iqbal, emphasised that this year’s labour action will involve hundreds of thousands of workers across Indonesia and will be held simultaneously in various regions.
“We want to reaffirm that hundreds of thousands of workers, KSPI members and Labour Party supporters within it, will carry out simultaneous May Day actions on 1 May 2026 throughout Indonesia, in 38 provinces, more than 350 regencies and cities,” said Said in a press conference broadcast online on Friday (10/4/2026).
For the action in Jakarta, he said, workers will proceed in two stages, namely an action at DPR RI, followed by a long march to Istora Senayan.
“For the action in Jakarta, we will hold the May Day action at two locations: first, an action in front of the DPR-MPR RI building from around 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and then a long march from DPR RI to Istora Senayan,” he stated.
After that, the agenda will continue at Istora with a May Day fiesta as well as the declaration of a new labour organisation.
“Heading to Istora Senayan to hold a May Day fiesta as well as the declaration of a labour civil society organisation. So, it’s a labour mass organisation initiated by KSPI, which we have named Garda Buruh Nasional,” he revealed.
Said explained that the organisation will serve as a channel to convey workers’ aspirations directly to President Prabowo Subianto while also monitoring government programmes.
May Day Action to Be Held Separately
He then emphasised that they will not join the May Day commemoration at Monas, which is said to be attended by other labour unions and possibly held together with the government.
“Second, the KSPI action supported by Labour Party sympathisers will not join the May Day commemoration organised by fellow labour union friends at Monas,” Said stressed.
He mentioned that they have received information about the Monas agenda, although there is no certainty regarding President Prabowo Subianto’s attendance at the planned event.
“Whether President Prabowo Subianto will attend or not attend the May Day commemoration at Monas? We have not received information,” he said.
Therefore, KSPI has chosen to focus on the action at DPR RI. “The KSPI May Day action in Jakarta will be at DPR RI, not at Monas. After DPR RI, we will long march to Istora Senayan,” he reiterated.
Said then explained the reasons behind this decision. One of them is that labour demands since May Day 2025 have not yet been fulfilled, particularly regarding the Employment Bill (RUU Ketenagakerjaan).
“The first consideration is that KSPI and Labour Party sympathisers believe that the six labour issues already raised in May Day 2025 have not been fulfilled by the government and DPR RI. In particular, the main issue is the passage of the Employment Bill,” he clarified.
He emphasised that this situation prevents KSPI from participating in a ceremonial commemoration, which is planned to be held at Monas.
“Because even last year, during May Day 2025, not a single one has been fulfilled by the government,” said Said.
On the other hand, KSPI stressed that this decision is not based on disappointment, but rather as a reminder to the government and DPR.
“This is not a matter of being disappointed or not. This aims to remind why KSPI is holding a separate action at DPR RI,” he said.
“Up to May Day and it has been more than a year, the government and DPR have never discussed it. I repeat, never discussed,” he added.
Therefore, according to him, workers’ voices must be conveyed directly at the DPR. “This voice must be loudly voiced, boldly voiced by KSPI and Indonesian workers with Labour Party sympathisers at the DPR,” he asserted.
In addition, KSPI also views this step as important to preserve the President’s dignity so as not to repeat the same unfulfilled promises.
“The second consideration is that KSPI and Labour Party sympathisers believe it is to preserve the honour or dignity of the President of the Republic of Indonesia. Because it is impossible, on the same theme commemoration, namely May Day, for the President to promise again the same thing, the same promise that has not been fulfilled,” explained Said.
He further assessed that the DPR is the most appropriate place to voice demands, especially regarding legislation.
“Thus, during May Day, the issue of passing the Employment Bill, according to KSPI’s view, is more appropriate to be raised at the DPR. Not just a ceremonial commemoration,” he said.
Furthermore, Said assured that the action will take place peacefully and involve tens of thousands of workers in Jakarta.
“Finally, this action or the May Day action throughout Indonesia will be carried out peacefully, orderly, anti-violence, and must not be anarchic. Because we want and have promised that the May Day action attended at the DPR will involve between 30,000 to 50,000 workers. So at least 30,000 workers,” he concluded.