Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The US government has kept Indonesia on its intellectual property (IP) priority watch list for 2026, citing rampant music piracy and counterfeited footwear.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – President of the Labor Party acting through the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), Said Iqbal, has conveyed 11 worker demands to President Prabowo Subianto. These demands were voiced during the Labor Day or May Day celebration held at the National Monument (Monas), Central Jakarta, on Friday, May 1, 2026.

The naming of Hery Susanto, Chair of the Indonesian Ombudsman, as a suspect for alleged corruption is shocking as it is concerning. An institution, which was established to oversee public services, has been embroiled in a case of abused authority.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – A coalition of civil society groups has rejected a government plan to add new tiers to Indonesia's tobacco excise system, warning it could undermine public health goals and open new avenues for corruption.

Putu Ayu Pratama Sugiyo, Malang – The commemoration of Labor Day in Malang, East Java, on Friday May 1 presented a different atmosphere from the usual May Day demonstrations.

Not only was it filled with speeches and demands, the mass action was enlivened by musical performances from hardcore and punk communities, who performed live directly on the streets.

Hilman Kamaludin, Bandung – The commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day was marred by rioting by a group of people dressed in black at the Tamansari-Cikapayang intersection in Bandung city on Friday evening May 1.

Jakarta – The police will investigate the source of funding behind a planned riot during the commemoration of International Workers' Day or May Day in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta.

This is related to the confiscation of cash amounting to 10,961,100 rupiah from one of the people suspected of being the coordinator behind the riot plan.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Friday pledges to build daycare facilities for workers' children and accelerate the construction of at least 1 million homes, responding to labor demands voiced during International Workers' Day celebrations at the National Monument (Monas).

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – The Association of All Indonesian Workers Unions (ASPIRASI) is pressing eight demands to improve the labor system as part of its May Day, or International Workers' Day, agenda.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) has addressed accusations of infiltration during the International Labour Day or May Day 2026 rally in front of the Indonesian Parliament (DPR) building. Earlier, the Jakarta Metro Jaya Police claimed a mass group was suspected of intending to cause destruction during the demonstration.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia has restored access to Wikipedia after previously restricting the platform for failing to register with local authorities, a senior official from the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto distributed aid packages and T-shirts after delivering a speech at the International Workers' Day or May Day event organized by the Labor Party at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on May 1, 2026.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Labor groups in Indonesia staged separate May Day actions on Friday, with a coalition of unions and civil society organizations rallying outside the parliament complex while others joined an official celebration at the National Monument attended by President Prabowo Subianto.

Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) held a commemoration of the 63rd anniversary of Papua's annexation into the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia or NKRI on May 1, 1963.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto questioned laborers on the benefits of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program during the International Labor Day celebration at the National Monument area, Jakarta, on Friday, May 1, 2026. Prabowo emphasized his view that the program remains crucial for Indonesia.

Dominius Desmantri Barus, Bandar Lampung – The Lampung People's Struggle (PPRL) conveyed 18 demands to the government during the commemoration of International Labour Day (May Day) on Friday May 1.

Raihan Muzzaki, 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.

Muhammad Iqbal Al Fardi, Semarang - May Day or Labour Day protesters held a demonstration in front of the Central Java (Jateng) governor's office on Jalan Pahlawan in Semarang city this afternoon. They brought a number of demands and took up 11 national and four local issues.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia's tax authority has moved to reassure the public that taxpayer data remains secure, saying its systems are regularly audited by state cybersecurity and digital agencies amid concerns over data protection.

Karina Tehusijarana, Jakarta – The tragic railway accident on the outskirts of Jakarta, which has taken the lives of 16 women, hit close to home for me for a few reasons.

Joniansyah, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Immigration has officially inaugurated a special lounge for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. This facility has been provided as a form of appreciation for the significant contribution of migrant workers to the country.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) prosecutors have read the indictment against four officers for allegedly launching a premeditated acid attack against human rights activist Andrie Yunus in the first hearing of the case in the Jakarta Military Court.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Several labor unions affiliated with the Alliance of Labor Movement with the People (Gebrak) have confirmed they will stage a May Day rally in front of the Parliament building in Jakarta on Friday, May 1, 2026.

Jember, Indonesia – Syazwan Luftan Riady traces his environmental campaigning to school holidays spent at his grandmother's riverside home in a rural part of Indonesia's East Java province.

RR Ariyani, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has announced several programs to enhance the protection and welfare of workers as May Day approaches on May 1, 2026. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Manpower, Cris Kuntadi, revealed that one of the implemented policies is the increase in the minimum wage in 2026.

On 15 April 2026, Indonesian military personnel allegedly detained seven indigenous Papuans from Kimurik and Pupet villages without warrant in East Beoga District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province, while they were travelling to town to buy food. One of the detainees is a female. Military members detained them inside a military post, interrogated and reportedly tortured them.

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – State-owned railway operator KAI President Director, Bobby Rasyidin, has asserted that the company will shut down unauthorized railway crossings controlled by mass organizations if they fail to meet safety standards. "We must close them. If it requires legal action, we will pursue it," he stated at Bekasi Station on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Rupiah fell to one of its weakest levels this year on Thursday, pressured by persistent global uncertainty after the Federal Reserve held interest rates, reinforcing concerns over inflation and external risks.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – Glass manufacturer PT Muliaglass and ceramic manufacturer PT Muliakeramik Indahraya, in collaboration with renewable energy company Xurya, have officially launched Indonesia's largest commercial and industrial rooftop solar power plant (PLTS Atap). The project has a total capacity of 22.5 megawatts (MW).

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia slams Indonesia's Ministry of Human Rights proposal to assemble a team to determine the status of human rights defenders. The organization sees this policy as potentially limiting civil space and deviating from the principles of human rights.

Responding to the Indonesian military's move to try four members of the Military's Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) for their roles in an acid attack against human rights activist Andrie Yunus in a military court in Jakarta, Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director Usman Hamid said:

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Indonesian police are deploying tens of thousands of personnel to secure the 2026 May Day rally. Workers are planning to stage protests in several locations, from the National Monument (Monas) to the parliament complex in Jakarta.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) is pushing for improvements to the system and consumer protection following the fatal train crash that occurred in East Bekasi on Monday, April 27, 2026. YLKI is highlighting vulnerable consumer groups, namely women, who were victims of the incident.

Alexander Loen, Jayapura (PINA) – More than 90% of Indonesia's malaria cases are concentrated in Papua, underscoring the region as the country's most critical hotspot for infectious diseases, Vice Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus said Tuesday.

Antara – Jakarta's air quality is listed as unhealthy, prompting residents to wear masks when outside, according to the IQAir website on Wednesday morning, updated at 4:00 a.m. WIB (Western Indonesian Time).

Vidya Pinandhita, Jakarta – The upcoming dry season, which is predicted to be longer and drier due to the impact of El Nino, has raised concerns about health risks faced by many Jakartans, especially those who must continue working outdoors under the heat.

Endang Mulyani, Jakarta – Authorities in Jakarta have begun deploying portable water treatment systems to ease a persistent clean water shortage, as the capital works toward universal piped water coverage by 2029.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdikti) has raised the idea of shutting down study programs considered irrelevant to the industry.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto once again mentioned the "Dark Indonesia" movement. This time, he remarked during the groundbreaking ceremony for the second phase of 13 irrigation projects in Cilacap, Central Java.

Vidya Pinandhita, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto visited victims of a deadly train collision at Bekasi Regional Hospital on Tuesday, hours after a long-distance train smashed into a stationary commuter train overnight, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens. He ordered a full investigation into the cause of the accident.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) has filed a pretrial motion at the South Jakarta District Court over what it says is a stalled investigation into the acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Four Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers assigned to the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) have been charged with committing serious assault against the Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Andrie Yunus, involving an acid attack.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The government is considering using compressed natural gas (CNG) as a substitute for mostly imported liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to shield domestic energy supplies from global disruptions caused by the US-Israel war against Iran.

Harjuna Pademme, Jayapura (PINA) – A coalition of civil society organizations under the Papua Solidarity Network said on Wednesday that human rights conditions in Papua have worsened since Indonesia assumed the presidency of the United Nations Human Rights Council in January 2026.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto announced that the government is waiving import duties on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to stabilize industrial costs. Previously, imported LPG was subject to a 5 percent tariff.

On 27 April 2026, joint security forces violently dispersed a peaceful student demonstration organised by the Papuan Student Solidarity (SOMAP) in Waena and Abepura, Jayapura City, Papua province. Officers used tear gas, warning shots, and physical force, including in densely populated residential areas such as in Jalan Sosiri, Abepura, exposing residents to harmful effects.

Yogyakarta – Yogyakarta police have arrested 13 people after shocking images of alleged abuse against small children at a daycare center went viral, sparking outrage across the nation, officials said Monday.

Police last Friday raided Little Aresha, a daycare center in Yogyakarta on Java island, following a report from a former employee.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The rupiah exchange rate closed weaker at Rp17,243 per US dollar on Tuesday afternoon, April 28, 2026, down 32 points from the previous day at Rp17,211 per US dollar.

The Director of PT Traze Andalan Futures, Ibrahim Assuaibi, said that externally, the conflict in the Middle East influenced the rupiah depreciation.

Jayapura – Responding to various cases of human rights violations, Papuans from various components of society held simultaneous demonstrations in various cities in Indonesia, including provincial and regional capitals in the land of Papua, on Monday April 27.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – The Health Ministry has been grappling with rising anti-vaccine narratives and misinformation surrounding vaccination, which have hindered efforts to boost uptake as childhood immunization coverage remains below national targets.