Workers View Outsourcing and Internship System as Ways for Companies to Pay Low Wages
JAKARTA — A crowd of workers from the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers’ Unions (FSPMI) spotlighted the plight of intern and outsourced workers during a pre-May Day protest in front of the DPR/MPR building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (16/4/2026).
These employment systems are seen as leaving young workers without job security and resulting in low-wage practices.
FSPMI President Suparno stated that the widespread use of interns and outsourcing serves as a means for companies to cut labour costs.
“Regarding the abolition of outsourcing and rejection of low wages. Clearly, we will continue to champion these issues. The fate of the nation’s youth now lacks clarity due to outsourcing and internships,” Suparno said in front of the DPR building on Thursday.
According to him, such practices often lead to labour exploitation with wages below living standards.
“Everywhere, companies use internships; everywhere, outsourcing companies fail to provide a decent livelihood. Clearly, interns are paid only 75 percent, 60 percent, or even just given transport money,” Suparno revealed.
He assessed that if companies absorb interns, workers’ welfare must still be prioritised, not merely offering work experience.
In addition to interns, Suparno highlighted the condition of outsourced workers, who are trapped in short-term contracts without job certainty. In his view, outsourced workers can lose their jobs at any time after a brief contract ends.
“Outsourced friends are like this: today outsourcing, two months over; tomorrow outsourcing again, two months over. This concerns the future fate of the nation’s youth; they must have certainty,” he said.
Suparno believes the future of young workers is also at stake in the drafting of the new Employment Law. He urged the DPR to eliminate these detrimental practices for workers through that regulation.
Previously, the Indonesian Workers’ Confederation (KSPI) and Partai Buruh held a pre-May Day action in front of the DPR building on Thursday. KSPI President and Partai Buruh President Said Iqbal said the action was joined by thousands of workers from the Jabodetabek region.
“Today, thousands of workers from the Jabodetabek region will take to the streets, filling the area in front of the main entrance of the DPR building. This is a Pre-May Day action to remind the government and representatives of the people that the struggle of the working class is not over and we will never stay silent,” Said said in his official statement on Thursday.
Said estimated that around 3,000 to 5,000 workers would attend the action in waves.
“Today’s action will proceed peacefully, orderly, and fully within the legal corridor. We have already provided an official notification letter to the police, in this case Polda Metro Jaya,” he said.