Fauzan, Makassar – The commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day 2026 in Makassar city presented two different faces in one momentum of the workers' struggle.
On the one hand, hundreds of workers and students took to the streets to voice their opposition to the unequal treatment of workers. On the other hand, the Makassar City government chose an approach of dialogical through the "May Day Fest 2026" which was centred on Karebosi Square.
The fly over area of Jalan AP Pettarani has been filled with protesters from the Makassar Democratic Struggle Alliance since Friday afternoon May 1. The demonstrators arrived carrying banners, loudspeakers and a series of demands directed at the central government, especially President Prabowo Subianto.
The alliance, which consists of at least 18 labour and student organisations, demanded the ratification of a new Labour Law that sides more with the common people. They also called for the repeal of the Omnibus Law on Job Creation (UU Cipta Kerja) and the elimination of outsourcing systems which are considered a form of "modern slavery".
Makassar Democratic Struggle Alliance field coordinator Noval said that workers still face various classic problems, ranging from termination of employment to the right to severance pay that have not been fulfilled.
"We have been asking for a pro-people Labour Law to be passed for several years, but to this day it has not been passed", said Noval during a break in the action.
He also mentioned the weak law enforcement against violations of workers' rights. According to Novel, many workers' reports regarding labour violations never receive serious follow-up.
"We saw that many fellow workers were laid off, but did not receive severance pay. This shows that there was negligence, because our reports regarding violations of this article were never heeded", he asserted.
Not only that, the protesters also highlighted the promise to eliminate outsourcing that had previously been made by President Prabowo at a May Day rally at the National Monument (Monas) in Jakarta last year. However, until now, this practice is still considered widespread, including in Makassar and South Sulawesi.
"Last year at Monas he said he would eliminate outsourcing, but up until now this practice is still rampant", he said.
Government holds May Day Fest
Amidst the sounds of resistance echoing through the streets, a different atmosphere could be seen in the Karebosi Square area. The Makassar city government together with the South Sulawesi People's Movement Coalition held a "May Day Fest 2026" with a more open and collaborative concept.
Thousands of workers, informal sector workers, farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) gathered in one area without partitions. Not only was the event filled with speeches, the activities also included a fun walk, a solidarity parade and direct dialogue between workers and Regional Apparatus Organisations (OPD).
Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin said he believes that Labour Day should not only be a stage for confrontation, but rather a momentum for building healthy industrial relations between the government, employers and workers.
"We encourage this year's commemoration of International Labour Day to be a space for good interaction for all parties", said Appi, Arifuddin's nickname.
Appi emphasised that workers have a strategic role as drivers of the city's economy. For this reason, the government opens the widest possible space to listen to workers' needs, including those related to labour regulations and protection.
"Perhaps we can't fulfill everything, but the communication space will always be open to accept the aspirations of our fellow workers", he continued.
On that occasion, the Makassar city government also explained a number of worker protection programs, ranging from vocational training, increasing the competency of local workers and employment social security which is said to have reached around 81 thousand workers.
Not only the government, but labour representatives who are members of the South Sulawesi People's Movement Coalition also appreciated the new approach to this year's May Day commemoration.
People's Movement Coalition Coordinator Akhmad Rianto said that the May Day Fest concept was a new breakthrough because it presented a space for struggle that was more conducive and inclusive.
"We are not enemies, nor are we bullies. We are part of this nation who want to participate in the development process", he said.
According to Rianto, this year's May Day is a symbol that the workers struggle is not always synonymous with clashes and tensions on the streets. He hopes that a model like this can strengthen solidarity between elements of society while maintaining the spirit of workers' struggle.
"We want to bring a new tone to the struggle. May Day is no longer about confrontation, but about how we unite to push for change that is better", he concluded.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "May Day di Makassar: Buruh Tuntut Janji Prabowo Hapus Outsourcing".]
