News Summary

The Indonesian government will verify President Prabowo Subianto’s claim that onion-peeling workers earn Rp700,000 per kilogram.
Concerns arose after Prabowo’s speech as it raised questions about the accuracy of the wage figure he provided.
State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that the government had not confirmed this amount yet.
Comparisons from other workers indicate significantly lower wages, highlighting potential discrepancies.
Until verification is complete, the Rp700,000 figure should be viewed as an unverified statement, not an official wage standard.

JAKARTA, thekabarnews.com—The Indonesian government will verify President Prabowo Subianto’s statement that an onion-peeling worker could earn Rp700,000 per kilogram. The figure triggered widespread questions on social media.

Prabowo made the remark during his state address at the Indonesian Parliament complex in Jakarta on Friday, August 14, 2026.

A video excerpt from the speech subsequently circulated online. This prompted users to question whether the president had quoted accurate data or mistakenly added the word “thousand” to a much smaller figure.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said on Saturday that the government had not yet confirmed the amount.

“We’ll check it later,” Prasetyo said at the State Palace on Saturday, August 15.

Prabowo introduced one of several guests, Susanah, an onion-peeling worker from Bogor, West Java, in his speech to show the impact of government programs. Additionally, the president said she received Rp700,000 for every kilogram of onions she peeled.

As of Saturday, the government had not released supporting records explaining who paid the reported rate or what type of onions Susanah handled. Nor had they explained whether the amount referred to one kilogram, a larger volume, total production or earnings over a certain period.

A worker at Pasar Legi in Solo offered a sharply different account of onion-peeling wages.

“In Solo, we are not paid by the kilogram. We receive Rp10,000 for one mesh sack,” said Gini, a 53-year-old onion-peeling worker, as quoted by Tribun News.

Gini said one sack contains more than 20 kilograms of onions. Based on that estimate, a Rp10,000 payment would amount to less than Rp500 per kilogram.

Workers reportedly earn about Rp30,000 a day, depending on the number of sacks available and completed.

The comparison does not automatically establish the rate paid in Bogor. This is because wages may vary by commodity, location, employer and workload. That is why documents must support the price of Rp700,000 per kilogram.

Market prices also provide important context. Garlic at Pasar Legi sold for approximately Rp34,000 per kilogram in June 2026, according to a Radar Solo market report.

A peeling fee of Rp700,000 per kilogram would therefore be more than 20 times that reported retail price. However, prices and labor arrangements can differ between regions and onion varieties.

Prabowo delivered the address as part of Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day commemorations, whose official theme is “Indonesia Berdaulat, Adil, dan Makmur.” The State Secretariat announced the theme in June.

Until the Palace completes its review, the Rp700,000 figure should be treated as an unverified presidential statement—not an established national wage benchmark for onion-peeling workers.