TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Alliance of Labor Movement with the People, popularly known as Gebrak, held a long march to commemorate International Labor Day or May Day on Friday, May 1, 2026. The procession moved from the Senayan Park area toward the parliamentary complex housing the DPR, MPR, and DPD.
According to Tempo's observations on Gatot Subroto Street in Central Jakarta at 13:30 WIB, thousands of participants—comprising labor union members, students, and civil society activists—joined the march.
"Unity: workers, farmers, students, and pupils," an orator declared from the command vehicle.
Prior to the event, Sunarno, Chairman of the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI), stated that his organization and Gebrak had scheduled the demonstration in front of the DPR building to mark May Day. He explained that neither KASBI nor Gebrak participated in the May Day Fiesta held by other labor unions at the National Monument, an event attended by President Prabowo Subianto.
He noted that the groups' reluctance to join the May Day Fiesta stemmed from alarming labor conditions, particularly regarding job security and worker status, which he argued are trending toward informalization.
"This means the number of workers in permanent positions will continue to decrease," Sunarno said on April 30, 2026.
He continued by stating that the situation has been further exacerbated by the Omnibus Law on Job Creation and its derivative regulations, which have led to widespread violations of normative labor rights. Cited examples included suppressed wages, excessive working hours, and a lack of social security.
Nevertheless, he asserted that the true character of the labor movement’s struggle emphasizes the historical roots of May Day: resistance against exploitation, class solidarity, and the independence of the movement.
Sunarno criticized the stance of other labor unions that chose to celebrate alongside those in power rather than criticizing policies that fail to favor workers' welfare.
"A true labor movement must remain independent and refuse to be subjugated by capital interests or political powers that harm the working class," Sunarno expressed.
Read: 8 Demands from Indonesian Workers' Union on May Day 2026
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