TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto distributed aid packages and T-shirts after delivering a speech at the International Workers’ Day or May Day event organized by the Labor Party at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on May 1, 2026.
Prabowo addressed thousands of workers filling the Monas area, where labor flags were raised high across the crowd. After his speech, he stepped down from the stage and was escorted to a Maung Garuda vehicle.
From atop the vehicle, Prabowo threw plastic-wrapped T-shirts into the crowd at around 10:00 a.m. He then removed his brown safari shirt and black cap while on the roof of the vehicle, remaining in a black T-shirt as he continued distributing shirts.
The exact type of T-shirt distributed from the vehicle was not immediately confirmed. However, Chair of the Wood and Forestry Sector Workers Union (SPSI), Diana Anwar, said it was the same design she received.
The T-shirt carried the inscription “MAYDAY 2026: Bagimu Negeri Jiwa Raga Kami” (For the nation, our body and soul). In addition to T-shirts, Diana said the president also distributed aid packages and umbrellas, with umbrellas specifically given to female workers.
“Everyone received them, but the distribution was done on the bus,” Diana said, showing a VIP invitation while speaking to Tempo.
The aid packages contained 5 kilograms of rice, cooking oil, fresh milk, coffee, and tea, along with T-shirts. Diana, who wore the shirt at the event, said it was designed by President Prabowo.
Unlike Diana, residents attending the May Day commemoration at Monas received aid at the Arjuna Wijaya Gate. Deni, a resident of Tangerang, said his group received packages at the Monas exit gate near the Arjuna Wijaya or Thamrin area while waiting for their bus group to gather.
“We waited at the exit gate. While waiting for others, my friends brought these aid packages,” Deni said, showing a white drawstring bag labeled “Presidential Palace of the Republic of Indonesia.”
The aid was distributed in white and light blue drawstring bags. Deni’s friend Wahyudin said the packages were handed out from box trucks.
“We picked them up from a truck. There were about four trucks filled with aid. We joined other residents. The distributors were possibly officials in uniform or some kind of organized group,” Wahyudin said.
Tempo’s review of the packages found they contained rice, instant coffee, cooking oil, tea bags, and granulated sugar. Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi had not yet responded to Tempo’s request for confirmation regarding the distribution of T-shirts and aid.
This year, labor unions and federations across Indonesia marked May Day on Friday, May 1, 2026. In Jakarta, commemorations were held at two locations: the Monas area in Central Jakarta and in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building.
The Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions together with the Labor Party held the main event at Monas, which took the form of a celebration attended by President Prabowo Subianto rather than a protest rally.
KSPSI President Andi Gani Nena Wea previously said the president would deliver “surprises” for labor unions during the 2026 May Day event. According to him, the announcements would be made directly by Prabowo on stage.
“It is related to online motorcycle taxis, the ratification of ILO conventions, and labor welfare policies,” Andi said at a press conference in Jakarta on April 29, 2026.
Sultan Abdurrahman contributed to the writing of this article.
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