Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metropolitan Police have deployed personnel to secure a labor demonstration organized by the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) at the southern section of the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
Jakarta Police Chief Commissioner General Reynold E.P. Hutagalung said a total of 1,659 joint personnel from the police and related agencies have been assigned to maintain security during the rally.
"All deployed personnel are instructed to prioritize a humane and persuasive approach," Reynold said in a written statement on Thursday. He added that officers on duty will not carry firearms.
Despite the security measures, Reynold urged demonstrators to maintain public order and avoid provocative actions. He warned that participants are prohibited from engaging in symbolic acts such as burning tires or damaging public facilities.
Reynold also called on protesters to comply with instructions from security officers. "We ask for cooperation from all parties so that the demonstration can proceed peacefully, orderly, and safely," he said.
Police have advised motorists to seek alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion around the Monas area. Traffic management will be implemented on a situational basis, depending on the number of demonstrators on the ground, Reynold added.
Earlier, KSPI President and Labor Party leader Said Iqbal said the rally was expected to draw between 5,000 and 10,000 workers. The demonstration is aimed at protesting provincial minimum wage (UMP) policies set by Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung and West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi.
Said argued that the UMP determinations in both provinces violate a Constitutional Court ruling and existing government regulations on wages. He said workers were left with no choice but to stage mass protests after regional administrations ignored legal wage standards.
"When local governments disregard wage regulations and Constitutional Court rulings, workers are forced to take to the streets and demand justice directly from the President," Said said in a statement on Wednesday.
Among their demands, workers are calling for a revision of Jakarta's 2026 minimum wage to fully reflect the decent living cost (KHL), set at Rp 5.89 million per month. They are also seeking the implementation of a sectoral minimum wage (UMSP) at five percent above the KHL benchmark.
In West Java, workers are urging the governor to revise a decree on sectoral minimum wages in 19 regencies and cities to align with recommendations issued by local regents and mayors.
– Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2078946/thousands-of-police-deployed-in-jakarta-for-todays-labor-union-rall