Indonesia: Police Chief Backs Labor Rights & Hospitality Push

Indonesian National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has emphasized the importance of harmonious industrial relations to bolster economic growth and improve worker welfare, following a meeting with the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSBSI) on February 6, 2026.

The police chief revealed plans to optimize the force’s specialized “Labor Desk,” initially established in January 2025, to more effectively resolve industrial disputes and expand protections for female workers. The ILO praised the establishment of the Employment Desk as an initiative to improve labour relations and legal certainty.

“We will continue to optimize police services regarding labor issues, including expanding protections specifically for female laborers,” Prabowo stated, according to reports from antaranews.com. The Labor Desk aims to serve as a bridge between employers and workers, facilitating the safe communication of labor aspirations and ensuring legal protections are upheld nationwide.

KSBSI President Elly Rosita Silaban welcomed the partnership and formally requested the expansion of the Labor Desk to regional police levels. This expansion, Silaban argued, would enable more effective responses to local industrial conflicts.

The initiative comes as the Indonesian National Police continues to define its role in maintaining public order and security in the context of labor relations. Prabowo recently rejected proposals to place the police force under the authority of a government ministry, affirming the institution’s independence on January 26, 2026.

The police chief’s commitment to labor rights follows a series of meetings with stakeholders, including the ILO, and builds upon existing efforts to strengthen legal certainty for both workers and companies. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Manpower and the Indonesian National Police is currently under development to further enhance coordination and enforcement of labor laws.

On February 15, 2026, Prabowo also engaged with Banser, a mass organization affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama, to solidify collaboration in maintaining national security, and monitored the construction of a Bailey bridge in Aceh to accelerate access recovery. The police also released 22 trucks of aid to victims of a disaster in Sumatra on the same day.