Prabowo Plans to Build New Cities Designed for Workers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto said he plans to build new cities for workers, designed with an integrated concept and located near industrial zones.

Prabowo said housing needs remain one of the main demands voiced by workers.

“I have planned that we will build new cities, each city might consist of 100,000 houses, 100,000 apartment units,” he said during the International Labor Day (May Day) celebration at the National Monument (Monas) in Jakarta on Friday, May 1, 2026.

The chairperson of the Gerindra Party said the proposed cities would not only provide housing but also include supporting public facilities such as schools, hospitals, sports facilities, and childcare centers.

He also stressed the importance of transport access to ensure workers can reach their workplaces easily. The government, he said, could provide affordable transport options such as trains or buses dedicated to workers.

On the same occasion, Prabowo said the government has built around 350,000 affordable housing units so far, with a target of reaching 1 million units this year.

“And these houses will, as suggested by you, be built in clusters near industrial areas, close to workplaces,” he said.

This year’s May Day commemoration in Jakarta was held at two separate locations: the Monas area and in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Central Jakarta.

The Confederation of All Indonesian Workers Unions together with the Labor Party held a May Day celebration at Monas. The event was staged as a festive gathering rather than a protest and was attended by President Prabowo.

However, several labor organizations chose not to join the government-aligned celebration at Monas. Those groups are part of the Labor Movement Alliance with the People, or Gebrak.

The alliance includes the Confederation of the Congress of the Indonesian Labor Union Alliance (KASBI), the Federation of Indonesian Labor Struggle (FPBI), the Federation of Food and Beverage Workers Union (FSBMM), and other civil society organizations. They held a demonstration to present their demands in front of the DPR building in Jakarta on Friday afternoon, May 1, 2026.

KASBI chairman Sunarno said around 10,000 people were expected to join the rally at the parliament building.

“We carry the theme of May Day with the People,” he said when contacted on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Sunarno said the protest organized by his group was distinct from the Monas event led by KSPSI. He described the DPR demonstration as an independent workers’ action, adding that the Monas celebration reflected “mainstream narratives and the co-optation of power,” in his view.