Refusing to Join May Day Fiesta at Monas, KASBI to Protest at DPR Building
The Konfederasi KASBI (Kongres Aliansi Serikat Buruh Indonesia) has refused to join the May Day Fiesta at Monas, scheduled to be attended by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Friday, 1 May 2026.
KASBI General Chairman Sunarno stated that his organisation will hold a protest in front of the DPR RI building. Additionally, the action will be carried out in many regions.
“We from the Konfederasi KASBI together with the Aliansi GEBRAK (Gerakan Buruh Bersama Rakyat) will carry out a demonstration in front of the DPR RI building in Jakarta with an estimated crowd of around 10,000 people,” Sunarno said in a written statement on Thursday (30/4).
Sunarno stated that the action is an independent initiative that is separate from the May Day Fiesta at Monas, which is laden with mainstream narratives and power co-optation.
“KASBI and Aliansi GEBRAK are not joining the May Day Fiesta at Monas with the President because the real labour conditions are still very concerning,” he said.
“Where job security or workers’ employment status is instead included in the labour market flexibility scheme, namely a work system that provides leeway in fulfilling the normative rights of workers, or a work system that leads to the informalisation of the workforce,” he added.
He explained that this condition makes it increasingly difficult for workers to obtain permanent employee status. This is reinforced by regulations in the Job Creation Omnibus Law and Government Regulation Number 35 of 2021.
“Thus, violations of workers’ normative rights occur massively in various sectors, types, and companies. For example, wages below the minimum wage (UMK), long working hours, no social security, violations of occupational health and safety (K3), and so on,” he added.
KASBI will also highlight the return of militarism in the Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration in civilian spheres. Such as soldiers involved in managing the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) kitchen, National Strategic Projects (PSN), and others rife with corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN).
“Even in responding to criticism and differing public opinions, violent actions and criminalisation against people’s movement activists have often been used over the past nearly two years,” Sunarno said.
In tomorrow’s action, KASBI will bring several demands. Among them are:
The government and DPR to immediately realise a pro-worker Employment Law involving trade unions following the Constitutional Court (MK) decision 168 on the Omnibus Law on Job Creation;
Reform the wage system and eliminate wage disparities. Implement fair and dignified national decent wages for workers;
Guarantee job certainty: abolish outsourcing systems, contract work, fake partnerships, and exploitative apprenticeships;
Ratify ILO Convention 188 and ILO Convention 190. Guarantee and protect female workers and those with disabilities;
Prosper educators, lecturers, platform workers, medical and health workers.
Stop mass layoffs (PHK) and suppression of trade unions;
Realise free and quality education as well as free and quality healthcare;
Uphold civilian supremacy, safeguard democracy, stop militarism, criminalisation of people’s movements, and free arrested activists;
Implement true agrarian reform, one of which is stopping the practice of evicting people’s land;
Stop wars, solidarity for the sovereignty of the people of Palestine, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and others.
“The character of the true labour movement struggle on Labour Day (May Day) means re-emphasising the historical roots of resistance against exploitation, class solidarity, and the independence of the movement,” Sunarno stressed.
He emphasised that May Day is not just a national holiday, but a moment for reflection on commitments to equality, social justice, and human dignity in the workplace,” he concluded.
“The true labour movement must be independent and not ‘tamed’ by capital interests or political power that harms workers,” he concluded.