Prabowo Scraps Workers' Welfare Council Plan for Special Advisor

President Prabowo Subianto's administration has shelved plans to create a National Workers' Welfare Council, a commitment made during the 2025 May Day celebrations. Instead, the president has opted for a more direct approach by appointing a special advisor to handle labor issues.

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After we tried to study it, there was something that we felt related to everything that was intended to be achieved with the existence of the Workers' Council, we may look for a different scheme.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi explained that after studying the feasibility, the administration found an alternative scheme to achieve the council's intended goals. This alternative involves appointing a prominent labor figure as a special advisor. "Therefore, the President then decided to appoint one of the labor figures as his advisor in the field of manpower and workers' welfare," Hadi stated.

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Therefore, the President then decided to appoint one of the labor figures as his advisor in the field of manpower and workers' welfare.

The chosen advisor is Said Iqbal, who leads both the Labor Party and the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI). His appointment, formalized by Presidential Decree Number 58/P of 2026, is expected to enhance communication between the government and workers. Hadi emphasized that this non-bureaucratic role aims to "fight for what has long been awaited by our labor friends, especially in the current economic situation."

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Non-bureaucratic, once again we together fight for what has long been awaited by our labor friends, especially in the current economic situation.

This shift comes after Prabowo's initial promise in May 2025 to form the council, which was to include labor representatives from across Indonesia. Subsequent meetings with labor union leaders in September 2025 also suggested the council's imminent formation, with plans for it to operate at a ministerial level. However, the administration has now pivoted to the special advisor model.

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I want to give you workers a gift today. I will soon form the National Workers' Welfare Council consisting of labor representatives from all over Indonesia.