President Targets to Regulate 8 Million Hectare of Illegal Farms and Mines

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto in front of workers stated that the government continues to enforce the use of forest areas for illegal gardens and mines which are targeted to reach 8 million hectares (ha) by the end of this year.

On the International Labor Day, President Prabowo explained that until now the government through the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (PKH) has regained control over 5.8 million hectares of forest areas that were previously used illegally.

"My calculation until the end of 2026, we will retake up to 8 million hectares and we have closed thousands of illegal mines," he said, as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, May 1.

The President said that this was done to support efforts to enrich the community, with the results of its management legally used in various policies that benefit the people and especially workers.

"Believe that our country is very rich, brothers and sisters, only this wealth is many in the cave. They make gardens without permission, many make mines without permission," said the President.

"I have taken over all of that, brothers and sisters," the President added.

He said the government supports the welfare of workers ranging from building housing to providing social safety nets including BPJS Health and Employment.

In particular, on this occasion, the President also stated that he accepted and would immediately facilitate a number of labor proposals submitted today. Including to hold a daycare center or daycares as well as the construction of houses for workers near industrial areas.

Not only that, there are a number of other policies announced by the President on that occasion, including the signing of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 27 of 2026 to reduce the income deductions taken by the application companies from online motorcycle taxi drivers to eight percent.