Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — President Prabowo Subianto marked a historic first on Thursday by becoming the first Indonesian head of state in six decades to attend the country’s May Day celebrations on May 1st, addressing thousands of workers gathered at the National Monument (Monas) in Jakarta.
In a speech that was both symbolic and substantive, Prabowo laid out five major commitments aimed at improving the lives of Indonesian workers during his administration. His address was met with cheers from a crowd long eager for stronger government engagement on labor issues.
The president’s promises focused on strengthening worker protections, reforming labor laws, and boosting welfare. Here are President Prabowo’s pledge stated on the Internationals Labor Day.
Task Force to Monitor Layoffs
Responding to growing concerns about arbitrary dismissals, Prabowo announced plans to establish a Layoff Task Force (Satgas PHK) to ensure that termination of workers is carried out fairly and in accordance with the law.
“On the recommendation of labor leaders, we will immediately form a layoff task force. We will not allow our people to be dismissed arbitrarily,” he declared.
National Workers Welfare Council
Prabowo also pledged to create a National Workers Welfare Council that will include labor representatives from across the country. The council will advise the president and review existing labor policies and laws.
“This is my gift to you, the workers,” he said. “This council will study workers’ conditions and tell me which laws are unjust or fail to protect you.”
Phasing Out Outsourcing
In his speech, Prabowo vowed to phase out outsourcing, a long-standing grievance among workers who say the system undermines job security and fair compensation.
While details on the implementation were not provided, the president emphasized that any move to eliminate outsourcing would be carried out pragmatically to avoid harming investment and job creation.
Worker-Employer Dialogue
In a bid to foster better communication between labor and business, Prabowo announced plans to convene a landmark meeting between 150 labor leaders and 150 company executives at the presidential palace in Bogor.
“We’ll sit together,” he said. “I will tell business leaders: you cannot become rich on your own without ensuring your workers also live well. And the state will not stand by idly.”
Read Also:
Indonesia Warns of Looming Natural Gas Shortages in Sumatra and Java from 2025 to 2035
Tax Reform for Low-Income Workers
Prabowo also hinted at potential revisions to income tax policy, stating that current tax burdens disproportionately affect low-income earners. He pledged to review tax laws to ensure fairness, especially for workers earning modest wages.
“If your income is small, why should you be taxed heavily?” he said. “But if the tax is light, just pay a little. This will be the job of the National Workers Welfare Council.”
The president’s direct engagement with labor groups and sweeping promises mark a notable shift in Indonesia’s approach to labor relations. As Prabowo embarks on his presidency, workers across the country will be watching closely to see if these pledges are fulfilled.
(Raidi/Agung)
