Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) and the Labor Party are set to stage a protest in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building today, September 22, 2025.
"The number of participants in this demonstration in front of the DPR building is more than 5,000 people," Said Iqbal, the President of KSPI and the Labor Party, confirmed.
These participants include members of KSPI, KSPSI AGN, and the Labor Party from the Greater Jakarta area. The demonstration is scheduled to commence at 10:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.
Iqbal stated that the protesters have three main demands regarding labor issues:
1. Uphold civilian supremacy.
2. Abolish the outsourcing system and raise wages.
3. Immediately draft and ratify a new Manpower Bill.
Detailed breakdown of demands
Civilian Supremacy
Regarding the first demand, Iqbal expressed his hope that President Prabowo Subianto's administration will prioritize civilian supremacy. He clarified that this means public security and order should be the sole responsibility of the Indonesian National Police (Polri), without any involvement from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). Iqbal stated, "The TNI is more about defense."
He also requested that the TNI not be involved in securing government facilities like the Parliament building, asserting that "The police are enough. But the police should be humanistic, professional, and prioritize persuasion and negotiation."
Iqbal also touched on police reform, stating that it should focus on systemic changes, including recruitment and education, to ensure a more humane approach. He clarified that the Labor Party and KSPI do not support calls to remove the National Police Chief, labeling such demands as a hidden agenda.
Wages and outsourcing
The second demand focuses on two interconnected labor issues: wages and outsourcing. Workers are calling for an increase in the minimum wage of 8.5 to 10.5 percent. Additionally, they demand the abolition of the outsourcing system by revoking Government Regulation Number 35 of 2021.
Manpower Bill
The final demand concerns the Manpower Bill. Iqbal is pushing for action on Constitutional Court Decision Number 168 of 2023, which resulted from a judicial review petition of the Job Creation Law.
He noted that despite a year having passed since the ruling, there has been no discussion within the DPR's working committee regarding the bill. He urged the DPR to finalize the legislation within the next year.
Future actions and warnings
Iqbal warned that the demonstrations will escalate if the government does not address their demands. He mentioned that the KSPI and Labor Party have already engaged in lobbying with the government, the DPR, and other stakeholders on these issues. He said that the current demonstration is a clear warning to the DPR and the government to take these demands seriously.