Thousand of workers attended May day at the Lapangan Silang area of Monumen Nasional on May 1, 2026. (Sekretariat Negara RI)
The event brought together large groups of labourers and union members from various regions. It also marked the second consecutive year that President Prabowo has attended the International Workers’ Day commemoration in person since taking office.
During the commemoration, President Prabowo announced a significant legislative milestone related to labour protection. He stated that the government had officially enacted a law aimed at safeguarding domestic workers, describing the regulation as the result of a long and arduous struggle.
Addressing the crowd, the president noted that the law on the Protection of Domestic Workers represented a historic achievement after more than two decades of advocacy. According to him, the legislation ends a long-standing gap in Indonesia’s legal framework, as domestic workers had previously lacked specific statutory protection despite the country’s decades of independence.
He emphasised that the adoption of the law marked an important step towards recognising and protecting the rights of domestic workers across the country, while also acknowledging the many years of campaigning by labour groups and civil society organisations that helped bring the legislation to fruition.
Despite the celebratory tone of the gathering, labour activists and unions have continued to raise concerns over unresolved issues affecting workers across Indonesia. While the newly enacted law has been welcomed as a long-awaited step forward, labour organisations stress that meaningful implementation and broader reforms will be essential to ensure that workers’ rights are effectively safeguarded across the country.
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