Jakarta. Tens of thousands of Indonesian workers are expected to take to the streets on Thursday, staging a mass protest in Jakarta and several industrial cities across the country to demand better labor conditions, higher wages, and an end to outsourcing practices.

The demonstration, led by the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) and the Labor Party, will center around the House of Representatives (DPR) building and the Presidential Palace. Organizers estimate between 10,000 and 50,000 workers will participate in the Jakarta rally, with simultaneous protests planned in major industrial hubs such as Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, Batam, and Makassar.

Said Iqbal, KSPI president and Labor Party chairman, said workers from Jakarta’s satellite cities --including Cikarang, Cikupa, Bogor, and Depok-- began mobilizing early Thursday morning. “This is a nationwide action. While about 10,000 workers will gather in Jakarta, tens of thousands more will march in other provinces and industrial regions,” Iqbal said.

The protest underscores six major demands from workers. They are calling for an end to outsourcing and the rejection of low wages, as well as a halt to mass layoffs, with a proposal to establish a special task force to address job cuts. Labor taxation reforms are also a key issue, including raising the non-taxable income threshold to Rp 7.5 million ($465) per month and removing taxes on severance pay, holiday bonuses, and retirement savings.

Demonstrators are also pushing for the approval of an asset confiscation bill aimed at combating corruption, pass the Labor Bill, and revisions to election laws ahead of the 2029 general elections.

Earlier in the week, protests outside the DPR complex escalated into chaos on Monday, as demonstrators rejected a proposed increase in lawmakers’ allowances. The demonstration, which began at 10:00 a.m., continued into the evening.

Police responded with tear gas and water cannons after protesters attempted to breach barricades around the parliament complex. Police detained a total of 312 protesters, including university students, members of the public, and school students, of whom 205 were minors.

Ahead of Thursday's rally, Jakarta police have deployed 4,531 joint security personnel from the police, military, and local agencies to safeguard the rally. “We urge workers to maintain order and express their aspirations peacefully,” said Jakarta Police spokesman Ade Ary Syam Indradi.

Authorities have also prepared traffic diversions and contra-flow systems in anticipation of gridlock around the capital’s main thoroughfares, including Jalan Gatot Subroto. The traffic police said rerouting will be “situational” depending on crowd sizes.

To minimize disruption, state-owned railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia has redirected 19 long-distance train departures and arrivals from Gambir Station to Jatinegara Station in East Jakarta.

Despite the large mobilization, traffic in Jakarta’s inner-city toll roads appeared lighter than usual on Thursday morning, though officials warned of potential congestion as protests escalate.