Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto ratified International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 188, which regulates the protection of workers in the fisheries sector. Prabowo announced the move during his speech at the International Labor Day celebration at the National Monument (Monas), Jakarta, on Friday, May 1, 2026.
During his address to union members, Prabowo mentioned that he had just signed Presidential Regulation No. 25 of 2026 regarding the Ratification of ILO Convention No. 188. "Another gift for workers," he said.
According to the Gerindra Party Chair, Presidential Regulation No. 25 of 2026 will serve as an instrument to improve the lives of ship workers. "To ensure protection and welfare for fishery crew," Prabowo stated.
In addition to ratifying the convention, Prabowo stated that the government will inaugurate 1,386 fisherman villages in 2026. This number will be supplemented by 1,500 new villages annually during his first term.
Prabowo claimed that for the first time in Indonesian history, the state will provide dedicated care for fishermen. "In the near future, around 6 million fishermen will have their lives improved, and the lives of more than 20 million Indonesian people, including their families, will be more prosperous," he said.
One of the facilities he highlighted for these villages is cold storage for sea products. "So far, they have been struggling; they go to sea without ice. Now we will establish ice factories in every fisherman village. We will also help with their boats," said the former defense minister.
This year, International Labor Day commemorations in Jakarta were split between two locations: the National Monument (Monas) and the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Central Jakarta.
The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) and the Labor Party celebrated May Day at Monas. Their activities were not held as demonstrations, but as a celebration attended by President Prabowo Subianto.
However, several labor organizations chose not to join the official celebration at Monas. Those who declined were part of the Labor Movement Alliance with the People (Gebrak).
This alliance consists of the Confederation of Congress Alliance of Indonesian Trade Unions (KASBI), the Federation of Indonesian Labor Struggle (FPBI), the Federation of Food and Beverage Worker Unions (FSBMM), and various civil society groups. They demonstrated to convey their demands in front of the DPR building on Friday afternoon.
KASBI Chairperson Sunarno said approximately 10,000 people protested at the Parliament building. "We carry the theme of May Day together with the People," he said when contacted on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Sunarno noted that his group's action differed from the event organized at Monas. He stated that the commemoration in front of the DPR was an independent act. "The May Day celebration held at the National Monument is, in our opinion, filled with mainstream narrative and the co-optation of power," he said.
– Andi Adam Faturahman and Novali Panji Nugroho contributed to this article
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2101408/prabowo-ratifies-ilo-convention-on-fishing-worker-protectio