Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at International Labor Day Celebration at National Monument Jakarta, Thursday, May 1, 2025

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

Assalamu ’alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Good morning,

May prosperity be upon all of us,

Shalom,

Salve,

Om swastiastu,

Namo Buddhaya,

Greetings of Virtue.

Dear all workers and laborers present here today at the National Monument compound. Today, May 1, is celebrated as the International Labor Day, a symbol of laborers’ struggle all around the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for the honor given to me. It is an honor to be invited to join you all. Thank you. Thank you.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As this remark must follow the protocol, so let me greet the figures present here, may I?

Distinguished Secretary of the International Labor Union Shoya Yoshida, Chairperson of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Union Jumhur Hidayat, President of Indonesian Trade Union Confederation Said Iqbal, President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Union Andi Gani Nena Wea, President of the Confederation of Indonesian Labor Union Ely Rosita Silaban, along with all labor confederations and organizations coming from all around Indonesia who are present here today. There are representatives from 100 confederations present here. Should I mention all the 100? No? I am afraid some of you will get offended, right? Do not be angry with me, please.

Distinguished Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly Ahmad Muzani, Speaker of the House of Representatives Ms. Puan Maharani, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Prof. Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Mr. Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Police General Budi Gunawan, Minister of Manpower Prof. Yassierli, Minister of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Mr. Abdul Kadir Karding, Minister of State Secretary Mr. Prasetyo Hadi, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. Why are you giving him more cheers than me? Please be aware that I am the President.

Distinguished Chief of the Indonesian National Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo. Obviously there are so many men named Prabowo. Distinguished Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces General Agus Subiyanto. So, the Police Chief is named Prabowo, the Commander is named Subiyanto, and the President is Prabowo Subianto. Wow, this Chief might be irreplaceable.

Distinguished labor attachés from 22 countries present here, and all leaders of labor unions and federations.

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear all the workers and laborers present here today, thank you for your presence and your invitation to me.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Once again, I thank you for today’s invitation, and especially I would like to thank you for your support when I ran for the presidential election five times. Five times I ran for president, four times I lost. Why did you laugh when I said I lost? However, despite my four losses, workers and laborers always support me. Thank you. And because you have never left me, though I’ve lost four times, we finally won in the fifth time, my dear brothers and sisters. So, I need to state here that I am the President of laborers, farmers, fishers, and disadvantaged people.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I need to affirm that the government I lead will work as hard as possible to eliminate poverty in Indonesia. The government I lead will work as hard as possible, so no Indonesian child will ever suffer from hunger. We will work so that all Indonesian children can access free education; that is what we are striving for. We will work harder so that all Indonesian citizens can access the best health services and get affordable medicines. This is what we are striving for. We have seen and calculated that our nation’s resources are so huge. The problem is that there are so many thieves stealing our resources.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The government I lead is determined to eradicate corruption in Indonesia. I know that this is not an easy job; this is a difficult task. Every day, I am bullied, threatened, and treated with such attitudes, but I am not afraid. I have said that I am willing and ready to die for our nation and people. I said, “Hey, everyone working for government institutions, you are paid by the people!” I said, “Stop your corruption! Stop it! Stop it! You steal people’s money! Stop it! And I call for immediate eradication of corruption!”

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have been an Indonesian for a long time, right? Maybe longer than you all. I have been an Indonesian for so long. I already know their tricks.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Why are they afraid I am the President? Because I know their tricks, I know them all. I was born and raised in Betawi (Jakarta). I know which assets belong to the people; I know them all. And I will take them back for the people, dear brothers and sisters. This is because, dear brothers and sisters, I have asked the Supreme Court, our constitution is strong, our laws are strong. The land, the water, and the natural resources therein are controlled by the state. Production sources that affect the lives of many people are controlled by the state and are used for people’s welfare. It is the mandate of the Constitution, dear brothers and sisters.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I think that’s all. Don’t you feel the heat?

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I want to give a present to workers and laborers today. I will establish a National Labor Welfare Council, which is made up of all labor leaders in Indonesia. Their duties are to analyze labor conditions and to give advice to the President about which laws are not good and do not protect workers, and which regulations are not suitable. They will give me input, and we will make improvements, dear brothers and sisters.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Also, based on the advice from labor leaders, Mr. Said Iqbal and Mr. Jumhur, we will immediately establish a task force dealing with worker lay-offs. We will not leave our people uncared for, we will not let anybody lay off workers arbitrarily. If necessary, without doubt, the Government will take action, dear brothers and sisters.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We will also soon pass the Domestic Worker Protection Bill. Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives present here, Mr. Sufmi Dasco, reported to me that it will be soon discussed next week. Hopefully, this bill will be completed in no more than three months. Also, based on Mr. Jumhur’s suggestion, we will also prepare bills on protection of workers at sea, workers in the fishing industry, workers on ships; we will turn the bills into laws. So, both the Task Force on Worker Lay-Offs and the National Labor Welfare Council will play a very important role.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I will also instruct the National Labor Welfare Council to learn how to eliminate outsourcing as soon as possible. However, dear brothers and sisters, we also have to be realistic; we also have to protect the investors’ interests. If they do not invest, there will be no factories, you will have no jobs. So, we must work together, as your leaders have advised you. In the near future, I will be having a meeting at the Bogor Presidential Palace, in which I will invite 150 labor leaders to meet with 150 CEOs in Indonesia. We will gather together. I will tell the entrepreneurs that they should not enrich themselves as much as they can without allowing workers and laborers to live decently.

However, the state will not remain unmoved; we will strive to provide health services and education for all people, we will also give electricity subsidies and direct cash assistance to low-income people. The total funds we have distributed to people have probably reached more than Rp500 trillion, we do it to ensure that no one has to endure a difficult life. However, the problem is that now we must ensure that those who will receive the assistance are really those in need. Never let those who are not really in need get the assistance and the subsidies. I still receive reports stating that some of the assistance recipients are actually those who do not deserve it.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Also, some public figures and labor figures said to me, “Sir, why are there no national heroes from laborers?” I asked, “Do you have any suggestions? Please hold a discussion and give recommendations to nominate heroes from laborers.” And they said, “Sir, what about designating Marsinah as the national hero?” If all labor leaders in their capacity as labor representatives agree, I will support Marsinah’s designation as a national hero.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In terms of corruption eradication, I support the enactment of the Asset Forfeiture Law. Don’t let anyone who has stolen state assets go free without ever returning the assets. So, we have to seize the assets, agree? So how? Should we continue? We continue our fight against corruptors. If they give you money, will you stage demonstrations for them? Please no. I’m surprised to discover that in Indonesia there are demonstrations to support corruptors. I’m really surprised.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have a very simple economic theory: if low-income people have enough income, they have purchasing power. If you have enough salary, you certainly want to buy things, right? You certainly want to buy shoes for your children, clothes for your wives, and motorcycles for yourselves, right? As the result, shoe factories can keep running, clothing factories can keep running, and motorcycle factories can keep running, which means entrepreneurs will enjoy the profits. Therefore, let us develop Indonesia, let us maintain Indonesia, so all Indonesians can make the best use of its resources.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We will uphold the law firmly. I will examine tax problems. High taxes will be imposed on high-income people. If your income is low, so why should you be taxed? But if the tax is lowered as well, would you pay the tax? If the tax is lowered to such a reasonable amount, please pay the tax, okay? Please pay the tax although it is only for a small amount. That is what the National Labor Welfare Council will be responsible for. Okay, enough? Thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you for having waited patiently for me and for being willing to listen to my speech on such a hot day. Thank you.

Happy International Labor Day, May Day.

May God Almighty protect us all. I wish we will keep working together. I need your support and your assistance. Together, we save people’s resources, our national resources. People’s resources, the nation’s resources, must be managed well for the greatest benefit of all Indonesians. And I have said many times I will enforce the law. Against those who break the law and steal national wealth, I will take serious measures. Because it is my obligation, my pledge to the people of Indonesia in the name of Allah the Almighty.

Thank you.

Keep striving.

Long live laborers! Long live workers! Long live people!

(RD/TM)