Prabowo Urges Swift Completion of Labour Bill: Ideally This Year
President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has requested that the discussion of the Labour Bill (RUU Ketenagakerjaan) be completed as soon as possible.
Prabowo stated that he has already conveyed these instructions to the Minister of Manpower Yassierli and the Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas, urging them to coordinate promptly with the DPR RI.
“If possible, it must be finished this year as well,” said Prabowo in a speech during International Labour Day (May Day) 2026 at Monas, Jakarta, on Friday (1/5).
The Gerindra Party General Chairman and Board of Patrons Chairman also stated that the bill must favour the working class.
“We hope that our laws always guarantee justice for all Indonesian people,” Prabowo remarked.
Prabowo also reminded all ministerial ranks to ensure that every policy taken is oriented towards the interests of the people, especially the underprivileged groups.
“When formulating policies, think and ask, does this benefit the little people or not? If it benefits the little people, implement it. That’s already right, no need to hesitate,” said Prabowo.
From the labour side, KSBSI President Eli Rosita Silaban expressed her hope that the Labour Bill would be passed soon.
She highlighted several crucial issues that she believes need to be clearly regulated in the legislation.
“We believe that you will see us as a group that greatly needs regulations on contracts, wages, and outsourcing to be passed soon,” said Eli.
KSPI President Said Iqbal also urged the acceleration of the Labour Bill’s passage.
He assessed that the remaining time in the Prabowo administration is still sufficient to complete the discussion.
“Pass the Labour Bill. Two years left, just a little time, hopefully five more months is enough,” said Said.
According to him, discussions on the Labour Bill have often faced tug-of-war interests, causing repeated delays.
“Usually, the Labour Bill has too strong ideological pulls and can even go through three presidents without being passed,” Said stated.
“Therefore, we humbly request through this May Day that hopefully by next year’s May Day, the Labour Bill has been passed and protects workers throughout Indonesia,” he added.
DPR Statement
In a separate location, Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI Sufmi Dasco Ahmad promised that the formation of the new Labour Bill would be carried out by the end of 2026.
This was conveyed by Dasco during an audience with labour masses from the Confederation of the Congress Alliance of Indonesian Trade Unions (KASBI) to the United Labour Movement for the People (GEBRAK) at the DPR parliamentary complex, Jakarta, this Friday morning.
“The government and the DPR have agreed that at the latest by the end of this year, we will implement the Constitutional Court’s decision to form a new labour law,” said Dasco.
Dasco stated that the speed or slowness of the new regulation formation process will depend on the discussions by the trade unions.
“These labour organisations and APINDO will sit down to formulate what will then be discussed in the bill. Well, if it’s mature there, then it will be brought to the DPR. Then we will discuss it together,” he explained.
As information, the formation of the new Labour Bill is a follow-up to the Constitutional Court’s (MK) decision which partially granted the material review of Law Number 6 of 2023 on the Job Creation Law (UU Ciptaker).
Dasco, who is also the Daily Chairman of the Gerindra Party, said that the discussion process for the new Labour Bill is being done in reverse. That is, the trade unions will discuss first, and then it will be submitted to the DPR.
“The materials are actually requested from our labour friends, what exactly needs to be included, since this is a new bill. We’re not revising the old one. Because the mandate from the MK decision is that we must create a new labour law. Well, this is handed over to the labour friends to mature.”
“Well, so we’re waiting, but in principle, the government has also requested that by the end of this year, the Labour Law must be completed,” he added.
Previously, the MK viewed that the Government and DPR need to create a new Labour Law within a period of two years. This is contained in the reading of the decision in case number 168/PUU-XXI/2023 on the material review of the Job Creation Law (UU Ciptaker) submitted by the Labour Party and six other petitioners, on Thursday (31/10).