Workers Hold Peaceful Action, President Will Attend: May Day Becomes Stage for Constructive Aspirations
Jakarta – Hundreds of thousands of workers will attend the celebration of International Workers’ Day or May Day which will be held at Monas Field, Central Jakarta, on May 1, 2025.
President Prabowo Subianto is confirmed to attend the May Day celebrations at Monas Field.
“This is the second history. It happened again that the President of the Republic of Indonesia was present directly with workers in the May Day celebration,” said the President of the Labor Party, Said Iqbal, when met by the media crew.
“The first to do that was the First President of the Republic of Indonesia, Bung Karno, on May 1, 1965,” he added.
Said Iqbal said that the commemoration of May 1 also marked a form of labor support for President Prabowo. In addition, Iqbal continued, May Day 2025 is also a form of togetherness and hope of workers with President Prabowo.
“President Prabowo Subianto’s presence on May Day is a sign that he wants to hear aspirations,” he said.
Responding to the May Day celebrations at Monas Field, the Metro Jaya Police Chief, Inspector General Karyoto, invited workers to maintain the May Day momentum in a positive manner.
“We must maintain the momentum of May Day as best we can. Don’t let there be any security disturbances that could tarnish the image of this celebration,” said the Metro Jaya Police Chief.
The General Chairperson of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Nany Afrida, also hopes that the entire series of actions will take place peacefully and without provocation.
He emphasized that May Day is an important moment to voice the interests of labor groups, including journalists, but it must still be carried out in an orderly and conducive manner.
“We, along with other labor groups, will take to the streets as usual, celebrating May Day peacefully, safely, and conducively. It has become a tradition. We hope that everything will run smoothly, because it is a symbol that the voices of workers are heard, not just symbolically accommodated,” said Nany.
Meanwhile, Dedi Hardianto, Secretary General of the Confederation of Indonesian Prosperous Trade Unions (KSBSI), ensured that the International Workers’ Day commemoration would proceed while maintaining public security and order.
However, the action will voice various labor issues, such as inadequate wages, problematic working hours, and violations of workers’ rights.
“We are a peaceful protest, we must remain peaceful, we cannot not. This is a celebration, even though we are voicing problematic working hours, problematic wages, problematic workers’ rights, we remain peaceful,” said Dedi.
Dedi emphasized that KSBSI continues to support the Prabowo Subianto government’s policies. He hopes that the government will open up space for workers’ dialogue in drafting laws. (*)
