On 28 July 2025, employees of the palm oil company PT Putera Manunggal Perkasa (PT PMP) in Kais, Sorong Selatan Regency, staged a peaceful protest (see photo on top, source: Jubi) demanding clarity over their employment status and labour rights following a management transition.
The demonstration, held at the PT PMP factory, involved workers on fixed-term contracts (PKWT), who voiced concerns about contractual ambiguities after the company's transfer from Austindo Nusantara Jaya Group (ANJ) to First Resources Ltd (FR), allegedly now operating under a new entity, PT KAS. Workers raised urgent issues such as unpaid social security contributions, unfair severance pay, intensified working hours, and lack of transparency in employment agreements.
The protest began in the morning hours at the PT PMP factory premises, drawing the participation of numerous PKWT employees. The employees' representative, Ifanli, stated that the transfer of management had brought substantial confusion, especially due to the sudden emergence of PT KAS without any formal announcement or consultation with the workers. Significant workplace changes were reported, including reduced quality of food rations ("bama"), altered leave provisions, and unclear procedures for employee deaths.
A primary grievance was the unpaid BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and health contributions since June 2025, alongside compensation practices that provided only 0.5 times the legally mandated severance amount. The workers also criticised the company's failure to formally communicate these changes and condemned the excessively long working hours introduced after the management transition, which labour representatives labelled as "inhumane".
Company representatives, including General Manager Saipul Arif and a spokesperson named Faisal, engaged with the protestors. Faisal attempted to reassure employees that working hours complied with regulations and that rest periods were observed. He mentioned that employment contracts remained unchanged and promised a clarifying written agreement, not constituting a new contract. He added that existing rights, such as leave entitlements and transport allowances, would remain intact.
Despite these assurances, workers voiced strong dissatisfaction and reiterated their demand for immediate, written clarification on key issues, including social security payments, severance rights, and contract status. From a human rights perspective, the Ministry of Manpower and the Southwest Papuan provincial labour office should launch an independent investigation into these allegations, ensure the enforcement of labour laws, and hold the responsible parties accountable. PT PMP and its parent companies must engage in good faith dialogue with workers and trade unions to resolve the dispute following national and international labour standards.
Human rights & labour law analysis
The events at PT PMP raise serious concerns under Indonesian labour law and international human rights standards, particularly ILO Convention No. 87 (Freedom of Association) and No. 98 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining), as well as the right to just and favourable conditions of work under Article 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to which Indonesia is a State Party.
The alleged non-payment of BPJS contributions and inadequate severance pay fall short of the protections guaranteed under Indonesian Law No. 13/2003 on Manpower and subsequent amendments. Moreover, the imposition of excessively long working hours without clear consent or renegotiation of contracts, especially without due consultation with the affected workers or their representatives, may amount to exploitative labour conditions and breach standards for decent work.