Indonesian labor unions warn of August unrest over employment bill

A coalition of Indonesian labor unions has formally presented a draft proposal for a new Employment Bill to the House of Representatives (DPR), urging lawmakers to expedite the reform process. The submission occurred on August 3, 2026, during a meeting with the DPR's working committee on the Employment Bill.

Andi Gani Nena, President of the Confederation of All Indonesian Workers’ Unions (KSPSI), stated that the draft was meticulously prepared by the Great Indonesian Labor Struggle Coalition, an alliance comprising 18 labor confederations representing 157 worker federations. He emphasized that this coalition represents approximately 90 percent of the labor movement's strength.

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About 90 percent of the labor movement’s strength is represented in this coalition. We prepared the Employment Bill draft over one full week to discuss it with the DPR.

Nena stressed the urgency of the situation, highlighting the limited time remaining before the October 31, 2026, deadline set by the Constitutional Court. He warned of potential "major unrest" in August if workers' demands are not adequately addressed, noting that grassroots awareness of vulnerable situations is already high. The unions aim to prevent a recurrence of the widespread demonstrations that followed the passage of the Job Creation Law, also known as the Omnibus Law.

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As we know, there are predictions of major unrest in August. At the grassroots level, we are already aware of situations that could become very vulnerable.

The demand for a distinct Employment Law stems from the Constitutional Court's Decision No. 168/PUU-XXI/2023. This ruling mandated that labor regulations be separated from the broader Job Creation Law framework and codified into their own legislation within two years of the decision date.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, acknowledged the proposal as a valuable input for the drafting process. He assured that the DPR's working committee would continue its efforts during the recess period to advance the legislative agenda, emphasizing the need for continued coordination with labor groups throughout the bill's enactment.

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We do not want what happened with the Omnibus Law to happen again, with a lengthy process, multiple revisions, and strong resistance across Indonesia.