Maintaining Social Stability, All Elements of Society Be Aware of Hoax and Provocative Narratives in Labor Actions
By: Anggi Kusumawardhani*
The commemoration of International Workers’ Day or May Day 2025 must be interpreted as a momentum to strengthen solidarity, fight for rights with dignity, and maintain national social stability. All elements of society, especially workers, need to be aware of provocative narratives and hoaxes that often infiltrate the dynamics of mass action. In this context, the call for workers to maintain a peaceful and productive atmosphere in the celebration of May Day is very relevant, as well as crucial to avoid the traps of interested parties who want to worsen the situation.
May Day 2025 must be interpreted as an event to consolidate labor power oriented towards structural change, not just an emotional street demonstration. This momentum must be filled with productive dialogue, building strategic alliances, and strengthening cross-sector solidarity networks. Indonesian workers must appear as pioneers of progressive and civilized social change, not trapped in outdated patterns that only produce endless cycles of conflict.
The General Chairperson of the National Conscience Movement (GNK), Habib Syakur Ali Mahdi, emphasized that May Day should be celebrated with joy and positive spirit. He emphasized the importance of conveying aspirations peacefully, politely, and productively without being provoked by groups that want to disrupt public order. According to him, workers must be aware of the potential for infiltration by individuals who intend to tarnish the essence of the workers’ struggle with anarchic or violent actions. Habib Syakur invited workers to focus on creative speeches, constructive dialogue with the government, and various other positive activities that reflect an intelligent and dignified struggle. Thus, May Day will be a real manifestation of the civilized struggle of Indonesian workers, not an event for violence that actually damages solidarity and the struggle itself.
In line with that, the General Chairperson of the Indonesian Trade Union Association (GSBI), Rudi HB Damman, also gave a firm clarification that workers are not the ones who cause chaos in demonstrations. According to him, the stigma that workers often cause riots is wrong and baseless. He explained that if there is friction in labor actions, it is usually due to provocation by external parties who do not want the labor struggle to run smoothly. Rudi highlighted that the labor action aims to fight for rights and social justice, not to create riots. He emphasized that May Day is an important momentum that must be used to voice aspirations firmly, peacefully, and with dignity. This is because workers are truly important pillars in national development whose contributions are often not commensurate with the protection they receive.
A similar statement was also made by Hendri Budaya Saputra, Chairman of the Andalas Cement Workers Union (SPSA). Hendri appealed for May Day to be used as an event to strengthen solidarity between workers, not to worsen the situation. He emphasized that the success of the workers’ struggle is not measured by how many people take to the streets, but by how effectively the aspirations are heard and followed up by the relevant parties. With a peaceful and dignified approach, workers are not only fighting for their rights, but also showing maturity in democracy and concern for broader national stability.
Meanwhile, Political Observer from Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Surakarta, Dr. Nurmadi Harsa Sumarta, warned of the dangers of demonstrations that are not managed well. According to him, demonstrations that end in factory closures will actually harm the workers themselves, because they will disrupt the investment climate, cause economic losses, and even cause investors to leave Indonesia. In a global economic situation that has not fully recovered, he considered it important for workers to prioritize dialogue rather than confrontation. Business closures due to anarchic demonstrations not only weaken national competitiveness, but also increase the burden of unemployment, which ultimately hits the workers themselves.
As a way out, Dr. Nurmadi encourages an approach involving workers, employers, and the government. These three parties must sit together to find a fair and sustainable solution. The business world must also demonstrate its social responsibility by improving working conditions and ensuring the welfare of workers. In Dr. Nurmadi’s view, a collaborative spirit is far more important than a confrontational spirit that will only destroy what has been built together with great difficulty.
Thus, maintaining social stability in the commemoration of May Day 2025 is a shared responsibility. All parties, including workers, employers, government, and the general public, must realize the importance of building a safe and conducive atmosphere. Workers need to continue to fight intelligently, peacefully, and with dignity, without being provoked by hoax narratives and agitation that aims to be destructive. The government and security forces are also required to provide professional security, guaranteeing an open democratic space while ensuring that order is maintained.
The momentum of May Day should be a time for joint reflection to strengthen commitment to workers’ welfare, increase national competitiveness, and strengthen national unity. It is time for all elements of society to jointly affirm that the workers’ struggle is a noble struggle that can only succeed if carried out with a spirit of peace, solidarity, and high social responsibility.
*The author is an observer of labor issues
