Radical Realism: Why Indonesia’s Working Class — Blue and White Collar — Must Build Political Power
Introduction: The Working Class Struggle You May Not Realize
When we talk about the working class, many imagine factory workers, construction laborers, and ride-hailing drivers. But what if I told you that most white-collar workers — bank employees, startup professionals, teachers, even junior corporate staff — are also part of the working class?
If you live paycheck to paycheck, have no job security, are burdened by debt, and struggle with rising living costs, then you are part of the working class, whether you wear a uniform, a jumpsuit, or business-casual attire.
The economy does not serve you — it serves the wealthy elite, corporate executives, and landlords. Your long working hours, endless meetings, and “competitive salaries” have not stopped:
- Wages stagnating while rent and food prices skyrocket
- Job contracts getting shorter, benefits weaker, and layoffs more common
- Loans and credit cards becoming survival tools, not lifestyle choices
- Mental health crises increasing due to overwork and toxic work culture
These are not just economic issues — they are political failures. Indonesia’s first-tier cities and industrial zones have become playgrounds for capital, where both blue- and white-collar workers are exploited to sustain a broken system.
To change this, we must learn from Thomas Piketty’s critique of wealth inequality, David Harvey’s analysis of urban capitalism, and Radical Realism, a strategy that demands not just reform, but the reorganization of power itself.
If you have ever felt that no matter how hard you work, you are still struggling, this article is for you.
1. Understanding Piketty and Harvey’s Ideas
Thomas Piketty: Wealth Inequality and the Working Class
Thomas Piketty, in Capital in the Twenty-First Century, demonstrates how wealth accumulates faster for those who own capital — land, businesses, and financial assets — than for those who rely on wages. His key argument is that without progressive taxation and wealth redistribution, inequality will continue to grow, leaving the working class trapped in economic hardship.
Piketty’s findings are highly relevant in Indonesia, where:
- The wealthiest 1% control a disproportionate share of assets while wages remain stagnant.
- Real estate speculation drives up housing costs, making homeownership impossible for most workers.
- There is minimal tax on wealth and inheritance, allowing generational privilege to persist.
His solution? Taxing the wealthy and redistributing wealth through social policies such as education, healthcare, and labor protections.
David Harvey: The Right to the City and Urban Justice
David Harvey’s Social Justice and the City critiques how urban spaces are designed for corporate profit rather than the people who live and work there. He argues that cities should be planned with public needs in mind, not just for developers and landlords who profit from gentrification and rising property values.
Key policy recommendations inspired by Harvey include:
- Rent Control and Public Housing: Limiting rent increases and investing in publicly owned, affordable housing.
- Progressive Land Taxation: Taxing landowners who leave properties vacant to encourage affordable development.
- Worker-Oriented Urban Planning: Prioritizing public transport, accessible housing, and fair wages in city planning to ensure economic security for the working class.
- Municipal Social Ownership: Cities should have publicly owned infrastructure and services, ensuring resources benefit all residents rather than private investors.
These ideas emphasize that economic justice is deeply tied to urban policies and wealth distribution, reinforcing why political activism is essential for the working class.
2. Best Policy Practices That Support Working Families
To address economic inequality and create a fairer system, various governments have implemented successful policies that can serve as models for Indonesia:
- Bolsa Família (Brazil): Introduced by Lula Da Silva, this cash transfer program lifted millions of families out of extreme poverty by providing financial support tied to education and healthcare participation.
- Public Housing in Singapore: A government-managed housing system that ensures affordable, high-quality homes for working families, preventing the displacement of lower-income residents.
- Germany’s Co-Determination Law: Mandates that workers have a say in company management by requiring employee representation on corporate boards, balancing power between labor and capital.
- Universal Childcare in Sweden: Provides free or highly subsidized childcare, allowing both parents to participate in the workforce without financial strain.
- Universal Basic Income (UBI) Experiments: Countries like Finland and Canada have tested UBI models that provide workers with financial security, reducing reliance on exploitative employment conditions.
These policies prove that governments have the power to directly improve workers’ lives — but only when pushed by strong political movements led by the working class.
3. The Shared Struggle: Income vs. Expenses in Today’s Economy
Let’s break down the reality of both blue-collar and white-collar workers in Jakarta by comparing their monthly income and expenses.
A. Blue-Collar Worker: Factory Operator in Jakarta
Income:
- Monthly Salary (Minimum Wage Jakarta 2024): IDR 5,067,381 (Jakarta Government)
Total: IDR 5.07 million
Expenses:
- Rent for a small boarding house (kos-kosan): IDR 1.2 million
- Daily transport (commuter + angkot): IDR 800,000
- Food (simple home cooking + warteg): IDR 2 million
- BPJS Health and other deductions: IDR 250,000
- Debt repayments (motorcycle loan + pinjol): IDR 1 million
- Miscellaneous (phone, electricity, small savings): IDR 500,000
Total: IDR 5.75 million
Reality: This worker is already in a deficit of IDR 150,000 per month. Any medical emergency, loan repayment delay, or job loss can push them into debt traps.
B. White-Collar Worker: Entry-Level Professional in Jakarta
Income:
- Monthly Salary (Entry-level corporate or startup position): IDR 7 million
Total: IDR 7 million
Expenses:
- Rent for a one-bedroom apartment or a comfortable kos: IDR 2.5 million
- Daily transport (KRL + Gojek + MRT): IDR 800,000
- Food (restaurant meals + occasional delivery): IDR 2 million
- BPJS + Private Health Insurance: IDR 500,000
- Debt repayments (credit card, motor loan, student debt): IDR 1 million
- Miscellaneous (social activities, entertainment, small savings): IDR 1 million
Total: IDR 7.8 million
Reality: Despite earning more than a factory worker, this white-collar worker has little to no savings and is vulnerable to financial shocks.
Why Both Groups Must Unite Politically
A. You Cannot Outwork an Exploitative System
- Productivity and hard work do not guarantee financial stability.
- A startup employee pulling 60-hour weeks and a factory worker taking overtime shifts both end up in the same place — struggling to cover costs.
B. Existing Political Parties Do Not Represent You
- Policies on labor rights, minimum wages, and workers’ welfare are set by business elites, not workers.
- Political parties are funded by corporations, landlords, and banks — not by the working class.
Conclusion: There Is No Working Class Without You
If you are a startup employee, bank worker, retail manager, or marketing staff — you are not separate from the working class. You are part of it.
If you cannot afford a home, if your job is unstable, if you fear sudden layoffs, if debt keeps you trapped — you are a worker, not an elite.
Real change will not come from corporate DEI initiatives, self-help productivity tips, or “leaning in.” It will only come when:
- White-collar and blue-collar workers organize together.
- Policies are made by workers, for workers.
- Political activism shifts power from capital to labor.
The future of Indonesia’s economy, cities, and environment must be shaped by the working class — and that includes you.
It is time to stop working for the system and start working to change it.
Are you ready?
