TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Various groups gathered under the Indonesian Labor Assembly (MPBI) of Yogyakarta crowded the city's Zero Kilometer Point to commemorate International Labor Day on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Tempo observed that the "Mei Melawan" rally was closely guarded by police. Representatives of the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Labor Union also attended, voicing the aspirations of academics regarding welfare and education policies.
One speaker, Primi Suharmadi, a lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences and a member of the university's labor union, expressed concern over lecturer workloads, which he described as unreasonable.
"My fellow laborers, although the profession of a lecturer often seems flashy, our work is actually beyond reason," Primi said in his speech.
He explained that lecturers currently work without clear time constraints due to a coercive system. "We seem to have to work 24 hours. In addition to teaching, we prepare materials, grade assignments, conduct research, and perform community service outside normal hours," he said.
Primi noted that these conditions are exacerbated by low welfare levels, with many lecturers' salaries and incentives remaining below the regency minimum wage (UMK).
This economic reality forces lecturers to seek side jobs, eroding rest and domestic time, particularly for female lecturers who also manage household responsibilities.
In addition to personal welfare, Primi highlighted the government's Free Nutritious Food (MBG) program, which he claimed has triggered budget cuts in the higher education sector.
He explained that significant funding from the Directorate General of Higher Education (Dikti) has been redirected toward the MBG program under the guise of efficiency.
This has resulted in limited research quotas for educators across Indonesia. Primi offered a sharp comparison regarding the government's budget allocation for the flagship program.
"The budget for a single day of MBG implementation, reaching Rp1 trillion, could actually fund 100 research projects for 100 lecturers for a full year," he said.
The impact of this reallocation has left many lecturers feeling demoralized while conducting research and pursuing scientific publications.
Primi also highlighted the loss of previous support, such as incentives for language translation required for international journal publications.
Currently, he said, access to research funds has become hyper-competitive and restricted to certain sectors, denying many lecturers an equal opportunity.
Primi emphasized that their demands are numerous because current research conditions are stagnating due to a lack of incentives amidst rising work demands.
May Day Mass Demands
The Coordinator of MPBI Yogyakarta, Irsyad Ade Irawan, stated that at least nine demands were submitted to the government. "First, we urge the approval of a new Labor Law, separate from the Omnibus Law, which must favor labor," he said.
The second demand is the rejection of outsourcing and "cheap labor" wage systems.
Third, the group rejects the threat of layoffs driven by global conflict and import policies. Fourth, they demand tax reform, including the abolition of taxes on holiday allowances, bonuses, old-age benefits, and pensions.
Fifth, they call for accelerating agrarian reform by forming an Agrarian Reform Implementation Agency. Sixth, they urge the approval of the Asset Seizure Bill.
Seventh, they demand the ratification of ILO Convention No. 190 on eliminating workplace violence. Eighth, they call for reducing online motorcycle taxi tariffs to a maximum of ten percent. Finally, they demand decent housing for all laborers.
During the May Day 2026 action, Irsyad stated the rally was not merely a stage for wage demands, but also a crucial space for advocating for female workers' rights.
He condemned the failure to implement menstrual leave policies, which many companies continue to ignore.
"Although menstrual leave for female workers is guaranteed by law, the reality in the field shows contradictory facts," he said.
According to Irsyad, many companies treat this constitutional right as an "optional" facility.
He noted that many female workers do not dare to exercise their leave rights, haunted by negative stigma, incentive cuts, and the fear of being seen as disloyal.
Irsyad argued this condition indicates a weak labor inspection system. "MPBI views menstrual leave not as an additional facility, but as a basic right related to reproductive health and worker safety," he said.
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