Jakarta Labor Unions Protest New Minimum Wage

Labor unions staged a protest near the National Monument in Jakarta on Monday against the newly announced provincial minimum wage, warning that demonstrations could escalate nationwide and continue throughout next year if the decision isn’t revised.

the protest centered on the 2026 Jakarta minimum wage, which the capital’s governor set at Rp 5.73 million (US$341) per month,a 6.17 percent increase from the 2025 figure.

Said Iqbal, president of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) and chair of the Labor Party, stated the group will pursue legal action to overturn the decision by filing a lawsuit at the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN). He contends the figure still fails to meet living standards given the rising cost of living in the capital.

Labor groups demand the wage increase to Rp 5.89 million, aligning with Jakarta’s decent living needs as calculated by Statistics Indonesia (BPS).

“Today’s action is a warning. If our demands aren’t met, we will escalate the protests,” Iqbal told The Jakarta Post. He added that similar protests occurred in other provinces, and more are planned.

The KSPI estimates that approximately 50,000 workers participated in the Jakarta protest.Police reported a slightly lower number, around 30,000.

Jakarta Governor Heru Budi Hartono defended the decision,stating it considered economic growth and the ability of businesses to pay. He encouraged unions to present data supporting their demands.

The 2026 minimum wage applies to most workers in Jakarta,but certain sectors may have higher wages based on collective labor agreements.