Thousands of workers from various labour unions gathered around the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, 28 August 2025, to stage a demonstration.
According to Kompas.com’s observations at the site, the crowd began arriving at around 10:20 a.m. Western Indonesian Time, marching from the TVRI building on Jalan Asia Afrika towards the main gate of the DPR complex.
The mass of demonstrators stretched as far as the side entrance of the Senayan Park (Spark) mall.
The front line was led by members of the Indonesian Metal Workers Union (FSPMI), who wore black and red uniforms emblazoned with the words Garda Metal.
Behind them, members of the Chemical, Energy, and Mining Workers Union (FSPKEP) appeared in green and white attire.
The demonstration was marked by a variety of attributes, including union flags, Labour Party banners, posters of demands, and even pirate flags from the popular Japanese cartoon One Piece, which attracted attention from onlookers.
As they marched, workers sang labour struggle songs and shouted chants such as, “Long live the workers! Long live the workers! Reject unilateral layoffs!”
On reaching the front of the Parliament building, the crowd filled the entrance gate and the Transjakarta bus lane. Demonstrators planted flags on the road barrier fence before solemnly singing the Indonesian national anthem. They then continued with the Labour Party anthem, waving their flags in unison.
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The President of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI), Said Iqbal, confirmed that the demonstration would only take place at the DPR building, cancelling earlier plans to march towards the Presidential Palace.
“The peaceful demonstration will only be held at the House of Representatives,” Said stated when contacted by Tempo on Thursday, 28 August 2025.
Initially, union leaders had considered staging protests at two sites, both the Parliament and the Presidential Palace. However, this plan was revised.
Said emphasised that the demonstration would involve thousands of workers from Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi, with simultaneous actions also taking place across other Indonesian regions. “Tens of thousands of workers will also hold simultaneous demonstrations in various regions of Indonesia,” he explained.
He confirmed that coordinated demonstrations were scheduled in cities including Serang, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Medan, Banda Aceh, Batam, Bandar Lampung, Banjarmasin, Pontianak, Samarinda, Makassar, and Gorontalo.
Workers’ Demands
Speaking earlier in the week, Said Iqbal outlined the demands to be presented at the 28 August demonstration. “We want to fight in a peaceful manner, against violence and against bullying,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday, 26 August 2025.
The first demand was a call for an increase in the 2026 minimum wage by between 8.5 and 10 per cent.
The union also expressed strong opposition to layoffs and pressed for the abolition of outsourcing practices. In addition, Said highlighted tax reform as a priority, arguing that the current system placed undue pressure on workers and the wider public.
Workers are also demanding the immediate passage of a new labour bill, as mandated by Constitutional Court Decision No. 168 of 2024, which upheld their lawsuit. Other demands include the enactment of the Asset Seizure Bill and revisions to the Election Law.
Public Transport Adjustments
The large gathering in Senayan inevitably disrupted public transport services. KAI Commuter, through its official X account, warned that operational adjustments might be required on Commuter Line services, particularly on the Rangkasbitung route.
“KAI Commuter will also implement operational adjustments to Commuter Line services, particularly on the Rangkasbitung route, if conditions on the railway line between Tanah Abang and Palmerah are unsafe and pose a threat to train operations, as was the case on Monday, 25 August 2025,” the operator stated.
Transjakarta bus routes were also affected. During previous demonstrations at the DPR complex earlier in the week, several corridors were diverted or temporarily suspended. Corridor 9 services were redirected to include routes such as 1W (Blok M–Ancol), 3F (Kalideres–Senayan Bank DKI), 9A (Cililitan–Grogol), 10H (Tanjung Priok–Bundaran Senayan), T31 (PIK–Blok M), and S61 (Alam Sutera–Blok M).
The Pluit direction did not serve Gerbang Pemuda and Petamburan bus stops. Similarly, route 8N (Kebayoran–Petamburan via Asia Afrika) was shortened, while the Petamburan direction temporarily bypassed the DPR/MPR/DPD RI bus stop and Mintoharjo Navy Hospital.
The Jakarta MRT was also expected to experience an increase in passenger volumes at Senayan, Istora, and HI Roundabout stations, replicating patterns observed during demonstrations earlier in the week.
