President Prabowo Attends May Day in Person, Proof of Government’s Seriousness in Guaranteeing Workers’ RightsPresident Prabowo Attends May Day in Person, Proof of Government’s Seriousness in Guaranteeing Workers’ Rights
By: Astrid Widia )*
President Prabowo Subianto demonstrated his strong commitment to protecting workers in Indonesia, one of which was by attending the International Workers’ Day (May Day) commemoration in person at the National Monument Field, Jakarta, on May 1, 2025.
This step is a very clear signal that the government under his leadership is not at all placing workers’ issues as merely a marginal matter.
Instead, President Prabowo brought the issue of employment to the national spotlight with his physical presence amidst thousands of workers who gathered to celebrate working class solidarity and struggle.
This momentum is clearly not merely symbolic. Many parties see the presence of the Head of State as a real form of how the government’s concrete support for the working people.
The President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), Said Iqbal, considered President Prabowo’s direct participation as a very historic event. According to him, this is the second time in the history of the Republic of Indonesia that a head of state has attended the May Day commemoration in person, after President Soekarno did so decades ago.
Said Iqbal believes that the presence reflects President Prabowo’s deep empathy for the fate of workers in Indonesia. He views Prabowo as a leader who understands the importance of listening directly to the voices of the common people.
The presence of the head of state in the midst of the May Day celebrations is considered a form of high respect for the struggle of workers, especially those who have been marginalized in the flow of national development.
Thousands of workers who filled Monas came from various elements of labor unions who voiced six main demands. Starting from the elimination of the outsourcing system, the formation of a special task force to handle termination of employment, to the ratification of laws that favor workers, including the Domestic Workers Protection Bill (PPRT) and the Asset Confiscation Bill to eradicate corruption.
Iqbal also expressed optimism about the direction of the government under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto in the future. According to him, the commitment of the Head of State in fighting for this nation to be able to move towards a better level of welfare or welfare state opens up new hope for millions of workers in Indonesia.
He emphasized that the spirit of May Day is not for revelry, but rather an event to consolidate the workers’ struggle in demanding justice and protection of basic workers’ rights.
Meanwhile, Roundtable 98 Cipayung Member Haris Rusly Moti also highlighted the President’s presence as an important moment in the history of Indonesian employment. He considered Prabowo’s presence to reflect rare political courage, especially in facing increasingly complex global economic challenges. Haris considered the President’s direct participation not only as a form of empathy, but also as a political commitment to protecting the working class.
Furthermore, he said that the government’s quick response to the issue of layoffs through the formation of the Layoff Task Force was a real step to maintain the stability of the national industry and ensure that the social safety net for workers was maintained.
Haris views the decision to involve trade unions in the employment policy process as evidence of the government’s maturity in building participatory industrial democracy.
According to him, this collaboration reflects a new awareness of the importance of social dialogue between the government, workers, and business actors. Haris emphasized that all May Day 2025 celebrations run peacefully and in an organized manner, reflecting the maturity of the labor movement and support for national stability in realizing shared prosperity.
President Prabowo himself emphasized the importance of cooperation between all elements of the nation to realize the grand vision of Golden Indonesia 2045. He realized that global geopolitical tensions, the climate crisis, and social inequality are serious challenges that threaten social and economic stability. Therefore, Prabowo invited all elements of society, including workers, to unite in the spirit of national unity.
The President also paid special attention to the proposal to form a PHK Task Force submitted by Said Iqbal. He directly instructed his ministers to immediately follow up on the proposal by involving various parties, including labor unions, academics, and related agencies such as BPJS.
The President assessed the importance of comprehensive mapping of job opportunities in order to accommodate victims of layoffs and ensure that they continue to have access to decent employment.
Furthermore, Prabowo underlined the plan for major investment in the agricultural sector which he said could absorb up to eight million new workers. This effort aims to create an inclusive economic transformation, where workers are no longer just objects of development, but also the main subjects in determining the direction of national economic growth.
The celebration of May Day 2025 is a reminder that the physical presence of a President among the masses of workers is not merely a ceremonial agenda, but a strong political statement.
Under Prabowo Subianto’s leadership, the government has shown that workers’ rights are non-negotiable, and that workers must be actively involved in the national development process.
With the spirit of unity carried on May Day this year, the government and workers seem to have found common ground. A new hope has opened up: that the country is moving towards a development model that is fair, participatory, and oriented towards the welfare of the people. (*)
)* The author is a contributor to the Nusantara Reading Room
