Said Iqbal Presents 11 Labour Demands to Prabowo: Requests Tax Exemption on Pensions

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President of the Indonesian Confederation of Trade Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal presented 11 labour demands to President Prabowo Subianto during the International Labour Day or May Day commemoration. Iqbal stated that these dozen issues were brought forward as workers’ aspirations to be promptly addressed by the government. “Mr President whom we respect, we bring 11 issues that could serve as aspirations,” said Said Iqbal from the stage at the May Day 2026 commemoration in Monas, Central Jakarta, on Friday (1/5/2026). The first demand is to urge the ratification of the Employment Bill (RUU Ketenagakerjaan). According to him, the Employment Bill often faces ideological interest tug-of-wars, causing delays. “Therefore, we humbly request that through this May Day, hopefully by next year’s May Day, the Employment Act has been ratified and protects workers throughout Indonesia,” he emphasised. Secondly, KSPI raises the HOSTUM issue (Abolish Outsourcing, Reject Low Wages). Iqbal assessed that the latest regulations on outsourcing still do not meet workers’ expectations. For that reason, he requested further discussions with the government to ensure protection for contract workers. Thirdly, KSPI asks the government to immediately form a Layoff Task Force (Satgas PHK). Iqbal reminded that the threat of layoffs is increasingly real amid global conditions. “The fourth is tax reform. We request that severance pay, holiday allowances, and pensions be exempt from tax. Because severance pay is the last defence of workers. THR also should not be subject to tax. Therefore, we request that tax reform be carried out,” he stated. Fifthly, KSPI supports the ratification of the Asset Confiscation Bill as part of efforts to eradicate corruption.