Teddy Claims 400,000 People Attend Labour Day at Monas
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya claimed that the International Labour Day commemoration at the National Monument area in Central Jakarta on Friday, 1 May 2026, was attended by hundreds of thousands of workers. The celebration, which featured music groups and was enlivened by the distribution of basic necessities from the government, was also attended by President Prabowo Subianto.
“Together with 400,000 workers from various regions in Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto commemorated International Labour Day held at the National Monument Cross Field area,” Teddy said in a written statement.
Teddy claimed that the Prabowo administration’s policies over the past year have been directed towards the interests of the wider community. “Especially the working class,” he stated.
He mentioned several policies that he claimed demonstrate Prabowo’s support for workers. Among them, Teddy cited the designation of Marsinah as a national hero and the establishment of the Layoff Mitigation Task Force or Satgas PHK.
This year, the International Labour Day commemoration in Jakarta was split into two locations. Both were in the Monas area in Central Jakarta and in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Central Jakarta.
The Indonesian Confederation of All Workers’ Unions together with the Labour Party held May Day at Monas. However, their event was not a demonstration. The May Day at Monas was conducted as a celebration featuring President Prabowo Subianto.
Several labour union organisations chose not to join the May Day 2026 celebration at Monas with the authorities. Those who refused were united in the Alliance of the People’s Labour Movement or Gebrak.
This alliance consists of the Indonesian Congress Alliance of Trade Unions Confederation (KASBI), the Indonesian Workers’ Struggle Federation (FPBI), the Food and Beverage Workers’ Union Federation (FSBMM), as well as organisations from various elements of society. They planned to demonstrate and voice demands in front of the DPR building in Jakarta during the Labour Day commemoration on Friday afternoon, 1 May 2026.
KASBI Confederation Chairman Sunarno said there would be around 10,000 people protesting in front of the parliamentary building. “We are carrying the theme May Day with the People,” he said when contacted on Thursday, 30 April 2026.
Sunarno said that the action organised by his group differed from the one held by KSPSI at Monas. He stated that the Labour Day commemoration in front of the DPR building was an independent and autonomous action. “The May Day celebration organised at Monas, in our view, is laden with mainstream narratives and power co-optation,” he remarked.