Workers Reject May Day at Monas, KSPI Chooses Major Action at DPR

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Masses of workers from the Indonesian Workers’ Confederation (KSPI) held a pre-May Day rally in front of the DPR/MPR RI Building, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (16/4/2026). This action was organised as a warm-up ahead of the International Labour Day or May Day commemoration on 1 May 2026, while also pressuring the DPR to promptly discuss the new Employment Law. President of the Indonesian Metal Workers’ Federation (FSPMI) Suparno stated that the rally aimed to revive worker consolidation before the main action on 1 May. Suparno mentioned that this action also served as an affirmation that FSPMI and KSPI would not join the May Day commemoration with the government of President Prabowo Subianto at the Monas area. According to him, KSPI and the Workers’ Party have decided to hold a separate action in front of the DPR RI Building. “KSPI has decided that May Day 2026 is to ask President Prabowo to fulfil his promises. Therefore, KSPI has decided not to join the one at Monas but to carry out an action in front of the DPR RI,” Suparno said. He revealed that several promises made by President Prabowo during last year’s May Day commemoration have not yet been realised. These promises include the formation of the National Workers’ Welfare Council (DKBN), the PHK Task Force, the ratification of the PPRT Law, and the drafting of a new Employment Law to replace the omnibus law. The pre-May Day action was also marked by a convoy of two-wheeled vehicles from surrounding areas to the DPR RI Building. Suparno noted that thousands of workers from Bogor and Bekasi were heading to Senayan. “Today, many comrades from Bekasi and Bogor are joining with a motorbike convoy. There are approximately 3,000 motorbikes in the convoy,” he explained. He assured that the number of participants at the peak action on 1 May would be much larger. FSPMI is estimated to mobilise around 25,000 workers, while the total KSPI mass is targeted to reach 50,000 people in front of the DPR RI Building. “This is the pre-May Day; on May Day, we will flood this place. I am certain that FSPMI will have around 25,000 spilling over in front of the DPR RI. For KSPI, the total in front of the DPR RI will reach approximately 50,000,” Suparno said. Besides Jakarta, warm-up actions were also held simultaneously in 16 other provinces, from Sumatra to South Sulawesi. Suparno mentioned that waves of actions would continue until October 2026, coinciding with the deadline for drafting the Employment Law.