Workers' Masses Arrive to Liven Up May Day, Traffic Around Monas Congested

Workers’ masses intending to participate in the International Labour Day or May Day 2026 commemoration are entering the Monas area. Traffic flow around the Monas area in Central Jakarta is experiencing congestion.

detikcom observations on Friday (1/5/2026) around 06:50 WIB showed that congestion was occurring since Jalan MH Thamrin. Queues of vehicles heading to the Monas area are piling up.

Several group buses carrying workers’ masses to attend May Day were seen queuing to drop off passengers at the Monas entrance. As a result, vehicle density is clearly visible in that area.

Vehicles appear to be able only to travel at 5-10 kilometres per hour, and occasionally come to a complete stop. However, there is no road closure.

Several transportation agency personnel, traffic police, and military police are seen on standby at various road sections. They are attempting to manage lanes to smooth the traffic flow.

Walking a short distance towards the Monas entrance from the Kud Statue, the area is already crowded with workers’ masses. They are seen arriving in groups with different badges and equipment.

Some are wearing white police-style T-shirts printed with ‘May Day 2026’. Others are wearing their respective organisation’s uniforms.

It is estimated that around 400,000 people will participate in today’s May Day celebration at Monas. This number consists of workers to online motorcycle taxi drivers (ojol).

“My calculation, with the joining of various elements, friends from online motorcycles because they will listen to the government’s announcement, will reach 400,000 masses. So if from workers more than 200,000, from other elements including ojol also reaching 200,000,” said President of the All-Indonesian Workers’ Trade Union Confederation (KSPSI) Andi Gani Nena Wea in a press conference of the 2026 May Day Committee in the Menteng area, Central Jakarta, on Monday (27/4).

He stated that the May Day commemoration will be attended directly by President Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo is scheduled to deliver a state speech and strategic policies for workers in 2026.

“Mr President will deliver his state address and he will convey what he will do in 2026,” he said.