En.malanginspirasi.com – The Malang City Government (Pemkot Malang) is using the commemoration of International Labor Day, or May Day 2026, as a strategic moment to strengthen tripartite communication between workers, employers, and the government.
Through the Department of Manpower, Investment, and One-Stop Integrated Services (Disnaker-PMPTSP), the Malang City Government organized an open dialogue forum that brought together labor unions, business representatives, and government officials on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Malang Mayor Wahyu Hidayat emphasized that a dialogic approach was deliberately chosen to reduce potential friction and to foster healthy and sustainable industrial relations in the city.
“On this Labor Day, we intentionally opened a space for communication without barriers. We brought workers and employers together so they can discuss directly and find solutions collaboratively,” said Mayor Wahyu Hidayat.
The effort was not limited to the day of the event. The Malang City Government, together with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), had already begun gathering aspirations since the previous night. This was carried out through both formal forums and informal discussions to ensure all strategic issues were comprehensively mapped.
During the dialogue, several critical issues emerged, including the resolution of industrial relations disputes, the implementation of labor regulations, optimization of the role of Tripartite Cooperation Institutions (LKS Tripartit), and ensuring legal certainty regarding employment status, particularly Fixed-Term Work Agreements (PKWT) and Permanent Work Agreements (PKWTT).
Businesses Voice Concerns, Mayor Responds
On the other hand, business representatives conveyed the pressures they are facing due to global economic dynamics. The increase in non-subsidized fuel prices and the surge in raw material costs — especially plastic — were said to have significantly raised companies’ operational expenses.
In response, Mayor Wahyu Hidayat assured that the labor situation in Malang remains relatively conducive. He assessed that the pressures experienced by businesses are temporary and have not led to any wave of mass layoffs (PHK).
“This condition is more influenced by the global situation and is temporary in nature. Businesses in Malang remain optimistic, and so far, there are no indications of mass layoffs,” he asserted.
The Mayor reaffirmed the Malang City Government’s commitment to maintaining a balance between the interests of workers and employers. The government will act as a fair mediator while ensuring that all labor policies are implemented in accordance with legal provisions.
“Layoffs cannot be carried out arbitrarily. There must be valid reasons and they must follow applicable regulations,” Wahyu explained.
As a form of protection, the Malang City Government, through Disnaker-PMPTSP, provides mediation services for parties involved in industrial relations disputes.
“When problems arise, we facilitate mediation. The goal is to prevent unilateral decisions that could harm either party,” he concluded.
Through the momentum of May Day 2026, the Malang City Government hopes that synergy between workers, employers, and the government will become even stronger. This, in turn, is expected to maintain regional economic stability while creating a fair and competitive labor climate.
