President Prabowo Affirms Worker Welfare as a National Priority in Response to 17+8 Aspirations
By: Ricky Rinaldi
The government has emphasized that worker welfare is a top priority on the national agenda. Through various strategic policies and initiatives, President Prabowo Subianto has conveyed that the state is committed to protecting and improving the quality of life of Indonesian workers, especially those with low incomes.
The President’s presence at the International Workers’ Day celebrations at the National Monument (Monas) in Jakarta on May 1, 2025, demonstrated this commitment. At the event, attended by more than 200,000 workers, he emphasized that workers are the backbone of the nation’s economy, making it the government’s obligation to pay serious attention to their welfare.
In his speech, President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the state’s obligation to be actively involved in protecting workers and ensuring a better future for Indonesian workers. He emphasized that increasing workers’ incomes is not just about wages, but also involves access to social services such as health care, education, and direct cash assistance. He reiterated the constitutional mandate that Indonesia’s natural resources must be managed optimally for the prosperity of the people, and that workers, as a key element of development, have the right to directly benefit from such management.
The government’s consistent advocacy for workers’ well-being is reflected in its decision to raise the average National Minimum Wage (UMN) by 6.5 percent for 2025. This policy was announced by President Prabowo Subianto at the end of 2024 after intensive dialogue with labor unions.
The government believes this increase will increase workers’ purchasing power while maintaining the competitiveness of national industry. Furthermore, the government has also allocated over IDR 500 trillion to strengthen the social safety net, including exemption from BPJS Kesehatan (Social Security Agency) contributions, free education for workers’ children, electricity subsidies, and direct cash assistance for low-income families.
As a strategic step, President Prabowo Subianto approved the establishment of the National Labor Welfare Council (DKBN), a ministerial-level institution tasked with channeling workers’ aspirations and providing policy advice to the government. In addition, a Termination of Employment Task Force (Satgas PHK) was established to address the urgent need for a surge in unilateral layoffs. This initiative addresses the aspirations of labor unions, who have been calling for a swift and fair mechanism for resolving labor disputes for years.
Dialogue between the government and labor unions was also strengthened through an open meeting held on September 1, 2025. At this forum, President Prabowo Subianto sat with labor union leaders, the Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), and community leaders to discuss three priority bills: the Manpower Bill, the Asset Confiscation Bill, and the redesign of the electoral system. The government affirmed its readiness to address a number of labor demands and encouraged the DPR to promptly process them as national legislative priorities.
The government is not just focusing on policy; it is also initiating a moral campaign, encouraging labor unions to nominate prominent workers, such as Marsinah, as candidates for national hero status. President Prabowo Subianto believes that recognizing the history of labor struggles is crucial to strengthening the narrative that workers are a legitimate part of the national identity.
This government commitment has received appreciation from various labor groups. Said Iqbal, Chairman of the Labor Party and President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions, stated that the President’s move is worthy of appreciation as a demonstration of government transparency.
Meanwhile, Ely Rosita Silaban, Chair of the Confederation of Prosperous Indonesian Trade Unions, emphasized the need for a monitoring mechanism to ensure the announced policies are truly realized. Both agreed that the President’s presence at the May Day commemoration is a strong symbol of a new, more harmonious relationship between the government and workers.
For the government, worker welfare is not merely a short-term issue, but a strategic national agenda. Improving worker welfare is seen as key to strengthening people’s purchasing power, boosting productivity, and maintaining social stability. With this approach, President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that workers should no longer be viewed merely as a factor of production, but as human beings with the right to a decent and dignified life.
The government also recognizes the challenges, ranging from structural resistance in the employment sector to productivity disparities between regions. However, with cross-stakeholder collaboration—between labor unions, the House of Representatives (DPR), employers, and civil society—this agenda is believed to be consistently implemented. The policies currently being implemented are concrete evidence of this.
