Campus Workers Union's Demands on National Education Day 2026

On National Education Day 2026, the Indonesian Campus Workers Union (SPK) has brought critical issues regarding lecturer welfare to the forefront. Their demands, articulated by Chairperson Dhia Al Uyun, highlight a deep-seated concern over economic uncertainty and vulnerability faced by academic staff. SPK's commitment to pursuing justice through the Constitutional Court signals a serious intent to secure fundamental rights for its members.

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We demand the Court provide a safety net in the form of the establishment of a binding minimum wage for all campus workers.

The union's specific demands are far-reaching. They seek a legally binding minimum wage, a stark contrast to the current precarious economic situation many lecturers face. Furthermore, SPK is urging President Prabowo Subianto to cease the alleged diversion of education funds for non-academic projects and to critically re-evaluate higher education policy-makers for their perceived lack of empathy and oversight. This critique points to a systemic issue where budget allocation and policy decisions may not adequately prioritize the well-being of educators.

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We demand President Prabowo Subianto to adhere to the constitution by stopping the cannibalization of education budgets for MBG projects, and to evaluate higher education policymakers who have proven to be negligent and lacking empathy.

SPK's call for a more transparent and accountable national budget, with separate allocations for lecturer and teacher allowances, is a crucial step towards financial clarity. Their advocacy for revising the Labor Law, replacing 'employer' with 'work provider' in relevant articles, aims to ensure that education sector workers receive protections equivalent to those in other industries. The push to eliminate the 'surat lolos butuh' (transfer clearance letter) requirement and the reporting of Lecturer Performance Load (BKD) are seen as necessary reforms to prevent bureaucratic hurdles from hindering career progression and recognizing academic contributions. From an Indonesian perspective, these demands reflect a broader struggle for fair labor practices and the recognition of the vital role educators play in national development, a perspective often nuanced by local labor laws and cultural expectations surrounding academic professions.

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We demand the DPR to fundamentally revise the Labor Law by changing all phrases of 'employer' to 'work provider' in operational articles such as employment agreements, wages, worker/labor rights, and other norms, to include protection for workers in educational institutions.