Women’s alliance to march to Istana on June 18, seek halt to MBG
The Dukuh Atas rally will press three demands, including lower staple prices and more jobs, while citing layoffs in 2026.
Aliansi Perempuan Indonesia will hold a protest on Thursday, June 18, 2026, with a long march from Dukuh Atas to the front of Istana Negara in Jakarta. The symbolic action demands that the government temporarily stop the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program for a full review, lower staple food prices that the group says have been pushed up by higher BBM, and create jobs. Alliance representatives, including Fanda Puspitasari and Mutiara Ika Pratiwi, said participants will carry pots, pans and kitchen tools and wear pink clothing as a symbol of increasingly strained household kitchens. The alliance said at least 90 women's organizations are involved. They also pointed to data from Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan showing 23.470 workers were laid off in January-May 2026.