Indonesian Workers Continue Protests in Jakarta Over Minimum Wage Dispute

Second Consecutive Day of Demonstrations

Indonesian workers staged their second consecutive day of protests in Jakarta, continuing their demands for a higher minimum wage. The demonstrations, held at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Jakarta Pusat, saw participants from various labor unions voicing their dissatisfaction with the current Upah Minimum Provinsi (UMP) 2026 DKI Jakarta, which has been set at Rp 5.73 million per month.

Key Demands of the Protesters

The protesters are primarily demanding that the Jakarta minimum wage be increased to Rp 5.89 million, in line with the Kebutuhan Hidup Layak (KHL) or decent living standard. Additionally, they are calling for the reinstatement of the Upah Minimum Sektoral Kabupaten/Kota (UMSK) for West Java, which they claim was removed by the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi. Said Iqbal, President of the Konfederasi Serikat Pekerja Indonesia (KSPI), emphasized that the recommended UMSK values from various regents and mayors across 19 districts/cities in West Java should be restored.

Implications of the Protests

The ongoing protests highlight the continued tensions between labor unions and government policies regarding minimum wage standards. The workers' demands reflect broader concerns about the cost of living and wage adequacy in Indonesia. The situation underscores the challenges faced by policymakers in balancing economic growth with social welfare expectations.