May Day: Prabowo vows daycare access boost for working parents

 Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has pledged to expand access to daycare services for laborers in the near term, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare nationwide.

“I was just told that laborers need daycare centers, which is a good suggestion. We will strive to grant this request as soon as possible,” he said before around 200,000 workers marking the International Workers’ Day 2026 at the National Monument in Jakarta 

Prabowo made the remarks in response to concerns over manpower issues raised by labor union leaders during the May Day rally.

The president linked workers’ welfare to housing access, highlighting the ongoing construction of around one million affordable housing units for the public.

“These homes will be tailored to your suggestions and built in clusters near industrial zones,” he said, emphasizing accessibility.

He also announced plans to develop new cities, each expected to accommodate 100,000 vertical housing units along with essential facilities such as schools, hospitals, sports venues, and daycare centers.

“Most importantly, there must be public transportation, such as trains or buses, to help workers commute to their workplaces,” he added.

At the rally, Chairman of the Indonesian Confederation of Trade Unions (KPBI), Ilhamsyah, highlighted a dilemma faced by married workers, who often have to choose between leaving their children with relatives during working hours or resigning from their jobs.

“We hope the state will respond by establishing daycare centers in industrial areas or workers’ settlements so children can live decently and grow optimally,” he said.

Ilhamsyah added that addressing this issue is crucial for strengthening the government’s commitment to improving workers’ living standards and, ultimately, enhancing the quality of human resources.