The Indonesian Ministry of Manpower is currently processing thousands of worker complaints regarding alleged violations in the payment of Eid al-Fitr bonuses, known as Tunjangan Hari Raya (THR), as the holiday approaches.
THR Complaint Processing
As of March 25, 2026, the ministry had resolved 173 cases, with 1,461 complaints still under review. Manpower Minister Yassierli has instructed governors nationwide to investigate every submitted complaint through the ministry’s THR Command Post and local labor offices.
“I ask governors to immediately deploy labor inspectors to examine every report received, both through the Ministry of Manpower’s THR Command Post and local labor offices,” Yassierli said in an official statement on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
The ministry has issued 200 performance inspection reports, seven inspection notes, and four recommendations based on complaints received up to March 25. Between March 21 and March 25, 2026, an additional 102 new complaints were filed by workers.
Complaint Numbers and Recurring Issues
The total number of complaints recorded by the THR Command Post reached 2,443 as of Wednesday, March 25. This figure is slightly higher than the 2,415 complaints received during the same period in 2025.
“So the number of complaints this year is still quite high,” said Deputy Manpower Minister Afriansyah Noor.
According to Afriansyah, disputes over THR payments typically follow a similar pattern annually, stemming from employer non-compliance and companies’ financial difficulties. He also warned that potential layoffs following Eid could lead to a further increase in complaints.
“The THR issues are a combination of compliance and financial problems,” he said. “Our prediction is that complaints or issues regarding THR will never be fully resolved.”
Regulations and Penalties
Indonesian law mandates that THR be paid in full and not in installments. Employers failing to pay THR on time face a fine of 5 percent of the total amount owed, as stipulated in Manpower Ministerial Regulation No. 6 of 2016. This fine does not absolve employers of their obligation to pay the full allowance.
Further administrative sanctions, outlined in Government Regulation No. 36 of 2021 on Wages, may include written warnings, restrictions on business activities, temporary suspension of production facilities, or a freeze on business operations.
Industry Perspective
Bob Azam, chairman of the manpower division at the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), echoed the sentiment that annual THR controversies are generally driven by compliance issues and corporate financial constraints.
“The THR issues are a combination of compliance and financial problems,” Azam told Tempo on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
He noted that THR payments are a longstanding practice, even in the informal sector, but some employers face cash flow problems despite intending to comply. He stressed the importance of stronger dialogue between employers and workers to prevent future disputes.
“It may look trivial, but this is the basic foundation of a healthy industrial relationship,” he said.
Despite acknowledging potential financial struggles, Afriansyah stated the government will take action against non-compliant employers, issuing administrative sanctions and fines.
“Companies that do not comply with the payment requests we issue will face administrative sanctions and fines,” he said.
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