Prabowo Arrives at Monas for May Day with 100,000 Workers

JAKARTA, Indonesia - President Prabowo Subianto attended the national commemoration of International Workers’ Day, or May Day, held at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Friday, May 1, 2026.

Prabowo arrived at around 08:40 AM local time accompanied by an official escort. The head of state was seen arriving in a white vehicle produced by state-owned defense manufacturer Pindad, wearing a brown suit and hat. He waved to workers as he entered the Monas area through the Horse Statue entrance.

Prior to the event, Head of the Presidential Communication Bureau Muhammad Qodari emphasized the government’s commitment under Prabowo to improving workers’ welfare. Qodari, who was recently appointed to the post, said the welfare of workers and the health of the business sector should not be seen as contradictory, but rather as mutually reinforcing.

According to him, the state is present not only as a protector of workers but also as a guardian of sustainable employment.

“As part of this commitment, President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto was scheduled to attend the peak of the 2026 National Labor Day commemoration at the National Monument in Jakarta,” Qodari said at the bureau’s office in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 29, as quoted from an official press release.

He stressed that the government stands with workers.

“The government wants to emphasize one thing, that its position is not against workers, but stands with them,” Qodari said.

He added that the government understands the concerns faced by workers ahead of Labor Day, including the threat of layoffs, rising living costs, and broader economic uncertainty.

“The government acknowledges and understands these anxieties,” he said.

The May Day 2026 commemoration at Monas was organized by the Labor Party and the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI). The event was initially planned to take place in front of the MPR/DPR/DPD complex in Senayan before being moved to Monas.

The Labor Party and KSPI said they mobilized around 50,000 participants for the event, with total attendance from various labor unions estimated to reach 100,000.

Labor Party President Said Iqbal said the change in venue was decided after a meeting with Prabowo on Tuesday, April 28, which lasted around 120 minutes.

“Before May 1, KSPI and the Labor Party had requested a meeting with the president, and the request was granted,” Said said in a written statement on Wednesday, April 29.

He added that during the meeting, the Labor Party conveyed 11 key issues and workers’ expectations, including a call for the May Day commemoration not to be merely ceremonial.

Read: 8 Demands from Indonesian Workers' Union on May Day 2026

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