Prabowo Distributes Groceries and T-Shirts to Workers on May Day
President Prabowo Subianto distributed groceries and T-shirts after his speech at the Labour Party’s International Labour Day or May Day commemoration held at Monas in Central Jakarta on 1 May 2026.
Prabowo delivered his speech on stage in front of thousands of workers filling the viewing area of Monas. Labour banners were held high by the crowd. After speaking, Prabowo descended the stage and was escorted to the Garuda Maung vehicle.
From atop the Maung, Prabowo then threw plastic-wrapped T-shirts into the crowd at 10:00 WIB. He removed his brown safari shirt and black peci from the roof of the Maung. Wearing only a black T-shirt, he distributed the T-shirts.
It is not yet known what T-shirts Prabowo distributed from the Maung. However, Diana Anwar, Chair of the Wood and Forestry Sector Workers’ Union of the All-Indonesian Workers’ Union (SPSI), said the T-shirts distributed were the same as the one she received.
The T-shirt read: MAYDAY 2026 Bagimu Negeri Jiwa Raga Kami. In addition to T-shirts, Diana said the President also gave groceries and umbrellas. Umbrellas were given only to female workers.
“Everyone got them, but they were distributed on the buses,” said Diana, who held a VIP invitation, when interviewed by Tempo.
The grocery package contents included 5 kilograms of rice, oil, fresh milk, coffee, tea, and T-shirts. Diana wore the T-shirt while attending the event. The T-shirt, according to Diana, was designed by President Prabowo.
Unlike Diana, residents attending the May Day commemoration at Monas received groceries at the Arjuna Wijaya Statue gate entrance. Deni, a resident of Tangerang who joined a bus group, received groceries distributed at the Monas exit gate at Arjuna Wijaya or Thamrin. At the time, he was waiting for his bus group friends.
“We waited at the exit gate. While waiting for the others, friends brought these (groceries),” said Deni, showing a white drawstring bag printed with “Istana Kepresidenan Republik Indonesia”.
Groceries were distributed in white and sky-blue drawstring bags. Wahyudin, Deni’s colleague, recounted that the groceries were handed out from box trucks. He mentioned there were about four box trucks full of groceries when he collected them.
“We took them from one truck. Along with other residents. (The distributors) were probably like officials in uniforms. Maybe from an organisation,” said Wahyudin.
Tempo checked the contents of the grocery bag. Inside were two packets of rice, 500 grams of instant coffee, cooking oil, boxed tea bags, and granulated sugar.
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi has not responded to Tempo’s confirmation messages regarding the distribution of T-shirts and groceries.
Several workers’ unions and labour federations in various regions held May Day commemorations on Friday, 1 May 2026. The International Labour Day commemoration in Jakarta was split into two locations: the Monas area in Central Jakarta and in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Central Jakarta.
The All-Indonesian Workers’ Confederation together with the Labour Party held May Day at Monas. However, it was not a demand-submission action; the May Day at Monas was held as a celebration featuring President Prabowo Subianto.
KSPSI President Andi Gani Nena Wea said the head of state would give surprises to the workers’ unions during the 2026 May Day celebration. According to him, the surprises would be announced directly by Prabowo on the celebration stage.
“It is related to online ojek drivers, ILO ratification, and labour welfare policies,” said Andi in a press conference at The Grand Mansion, Menteng, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 29 April 2026.