On May Day, Megawati Discusses Workers' Role in Fighting Colonialism and Capitalism

Megawati conveyed this during a video recording played at the PDI-P’s 2026 International Labour Day commemoration event at GOR Otista, East Jakarta, on Sunday (3/5/2026). Megawati assessed that Labour Day commemorations should be viewed from historical and cultural perspectives. “Why? Because the workers’ struggle is a manifestation of resistance against various shackles of colonialism resulting from the workings of capitalism and imperialism,” Megawati stated. Megawati also recounted how Indonesia suffered during the Dutch colonial era with the cultuurstelsel or forced planting system. According to her, the struggle for economic justice becomes an essential essence of socio-democracy in Pancasila. “This economic justice is not only fought for by workers but also becomes the ideological goal of Indonesia’s independence,” she said. The fifth President of Indonesia warned of the current international competition. Thus, there is a need to enhance the quality and productivity of workers in Indonesia. “PDI Perjuangan affirms that workers are not merely a factor of production in economic figures, but the mainstay of the struggle and, together with farmers and fishermen, the orientation of national independence,” she stated. On the same occasion, PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto mentioned that his party has conducted Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with workers. The result is a manifestation of workers’ struggles. “We also listened, provided space for them to express their aspirations, and the Manifesto of Workers’ Struggles was officially read earlier,” Hasto said. Hasto noted that in Indonesia’s independence, the narrative of people’s liberation is inherent. However, that narrative has begun to fade due to the New Order. “Well, this liberation narrative has been largely forgotten due to the de-Soekarnoisation that occurred during the New Order government. Thus, the oppression of the colonised people requires political efforts to build their awareness,” he stated. “That the power we obtained through the independence of the Republic of Indonesia must be focused on siding with those who are still poor, marginalised, and treated unfairly,” he added.