Indonesian workers protest draft labor legislation

Approximately 50,000 workers from the Koalisi Besar Perjuangan Buruh Indonesia (KBPBI) staged widespread demonstrations across 30 regions in Indonesia on September 10, 2026. The protests targeted the draft Labor Protection Bill, which labor unions argue retains controversial elements of the previous Omnibus Law.

Key grievances include concerns over fixed-term employment contracts (PKWT), outsourcing, wage structures, layoffs, and apprenticeship regulations. Labor leaders, including representatives from KASBI and GSBI, expressed dissatisfaction with the legislative trajectory, specifically demanding a one-year ceiling for contract work rather than the proposed four-year maximum. They also criticized the current apprenticeship framework as a mechanism for cheap labor.

The Ministry of Manpower aims to finalize the new labor legislation by October 2026.