Workers' Hopes: 0% Down Payment to Non-Suffocating Home Instalments

Amid the bustling May Day 2026 commemorations at the National Monument (Monas) area, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Jakarta, on Friday (1/5/2026), the demands were not limited to wages and workplace welfare. Nevertheless, amidst the crowd of protesters, the issue of home ownership also drew the attention of the workers. The government’s much-touted 3 Million Homes programme has sparked new hopes for some workers who have long struggled to own their own homes. For them, a house is not just a place to live, but a symbol of life certainty after years of working. General Secretary of the Independent Manufacturing Workers’ Union Federation (GSPMI) Tarman stated that workers hope the programme will truly provide ease of access to home ownership, especially in terms of financing. Tarman also assessed that the current subsidised home instalment scheme is still quite heavy for some workers. In fact, subsidised home instalments that have exceeded Rp 1 million per month are still considered burdensome to their household expenditures. President Prabowo Subianto’s statement regarding a home instalment scheme of up to 40 years for workers has garnered attention. However, behind that hope, the workers also harbour caution to ensure the programme is truly realised. For him, a home with affordable instalments would be good news for workers who have had to divide their income for various living needs. “If the instalments can be affordable, yes, appreciation. Very much appreciation if Mr Prabowo is heading in that direction,” said Totong to Kompas.com on the same occasion. However, Totong acknowledged that the current worker wage conditions force many workers to calculate tightly if they want to take a home. Home instalments often end up sacrificing other needs. “My hope going forward is that the down payment does not disrupt other finances. Because our wages are not yet decent. So, like it or not, home instalments also sacrifice the others,” explained Totong.