Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

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Workers Can Lodge Complaints with Labour Authority If Companies Fail to Pay Festive Holiday Allowance

The Central Java Labour and Transmigration Office (Disnakertrans) has opened consultation and complaints posts during March 2026 to assist workers regarding the payment of religious festive holiday allowance (THR). The office will operate consultation services from 2-13 March and handle complaints from 14-31 March through multiple locations, phone hotlines, and online channels. The initiative addresses persistent non-payment and instalment payment issues, with over 100 complaints filed the previous year.

Indonesia's Ambition: 44 GW Nuclear Power Generation by 2060

Indonesia's National Energy Council has unveiled an ambitious target to develop 44 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2060, with 35 GW allocated for electricity generation and 9 GW for hydrogen production beginning in 2045. This strategic expansion reflects a significant policy shift following Government Regulation No. 40 of 2025, which elevated nuclear energy from a last-resort option to a vital component of the national energy mix, projected to increase from 0.5% to over 11% by 2060. The government plans to commission its first nuclear power plant between 2032 and 2034 with an initial capacity of 500 megawatts.

BPOM Obtains WHO Listed Authority Status, Boosting Global Confidence in Indonesian Pharmaceutical Industry

Indonesia's drug and food regulator BPOM has achieved WHO Listed Authority (WLA) status, making it the first developing nation to attain this highest recognition of regulatory quality and credibility. This landmark achievement is expected to significantly benefit the domestic pharmaceutical industry by facilitating access to global markets, attracting international investment, and strengthening Indonesia's position in vaccine production and pharmaceutical exports.

Permit for Cilandak Padel Court Has Not Been Issued Due to Incomplete Requirements

The South Jakarta municipal government has not issued a building permit for the Fourthwall padel court in Cilandak because the operator has failed to meet all required conditions, including addressing noise complaints from nearby residents. The city has sealed the facility after it continued construction and operations without proper authorisation, though the operator claims to have submitted the permit application since August 2025.

Analysts Warn that Strait of Hormuz Closure Risk Could Extend Stock Market Pressure

Market analysts warn that escalating geopolitical tensions between Iran, the US, and Israel could trigger prolonged pressure on global and Indonesian stock markets if the Strait of Hormuz is closed, disrupting oil supplies and triggering sustained inflation. Beyond immediate sentiment pressure, a prolonged oil price surge at elevated levels could prompt stricter monetary policy, dampening equities further as investors shift capital to safe-haven assets and rotate towards defensive sectors and energy stocks.

Psychologist: Filter information amid war concerns for mental health

A psychology professor from the University of Indonesia has advised the public to seek reliable news sources when filtering information about global conflicts and military tensions in order to prevent overthinking and protect their mental health. She warns that consuming unverified information from social media combined with perfectionist traits and lack of confidence can exacerbate anxiety, leading to physical symptoms and avoidant behaviours. The expert recommends family support, self-awareness, and spiritual practices as coping mechanisms against excessive worry during turbulent times.

Police Evacuate Deceased Railway Track Worker Hit by Freight Train in Batang

A 22-year-old railway track controller was struck and killed by a Kalimas Cargo freight train whilst conducting repairs on the Surabaya-Jakarta line near Batang, Central Java, on 3 March. The worker, attempting to repair a loose bolt on track one, apparently failed to notice the eastbound freight train approaching on the same track whilst his attention was diverted by a train passing on an adjacent track. Indonesian Railways (KAI) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening workplace safety protocols and field worker oversight following the incident.

Free Running Race This Saturday Night in South Jakarta

The South Jakarta Police District will hold a free running race in Bintaro, Pesanggrahan, on Saturday, 7 March 2026, from 22:00 to 00:00 WIB. The initiative aims to provide a safe, supervised outlet for youth who might otherwise engage in illegal street racing, with the evening timing chosen to minimise traffic disruption and ensure participant safety.

Government Claims Ride-hailing Driver Holiday Bonus Doubled, Association Demands IDR 1.2 Million per Driver

The Indonesian government claims it has doubled the holiday bonus (BHR) for online ride-hailing drivers in 2026, with an estimated 850,000 drivers to receive the payment. However, the Association of Garda Indonesia Ride-hailing Drivers has rejected the doubled amount of IDR 100,000 as inadequate and inhumane, demanding IDR 1.2 million per driver instead to better support workers during the holiday season.

Parliament: Initiative to Mediate US-Israel vs Iran Conflict Is Not Taking Sides

Indonesia's Parliament Commission I has characterised the government's offer to mediate the US-Israel versus Iran conflict as a concrete implementation of Indonesia's independent and active foreign policy, not partisan alignment. Deputy Chair Dave Laksono stressed that Indonesia's diplomatic role reflects principles of non-alignment whilst actively promoting peace, drawing on Indonesia's international reputation and track record in peace missions.

Pertamina launches PFpreneur Programme for women UMKM independence

PT Pertamina has launched the PFpreneur Development Programme in 2026, focusing on building the capacity and independence of women-led micro, small and medium enterprises through integrated training and mentoring. The programme, which opened registration on 2 March, has already trained 6,325 women entrepreneurs since 2020, with graduates advancing to further development programmes at the UMK Academy and Pertapreneur Aggregator.

PDIP Confirms Megawati Will Not Attend Prabowo's Palace Invitation Tonight

Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri has declined an invitation from President Prabowo Subianto for a gathering at the Palace this evening, citing prior commitment to internal party activities scheduled in Bali. PDIP chairman Deddy Sitorus confirmed the invitation and Megawati's absence, whilst former president Joko Widodo is reported to be attending the meeting scheduled for 19:30 WIB.

Bali Immigration Authority Issues Emergency Permits to Foreign Nationals Affected by Middle East Conflict

The Ngurah Rai Immigration Office in Bali has issued 54 emergency residence permits (ITKT) to foreign nationals whose flights were disrupted due to the Middle East conflict. The permits are valid for 30 days and renewable for a further 30 days if the emergency continues. Additionally, the immigration authority has waived overstay penalties for affected foreigners during this period, with approximately 4,426 foreign nationals impacted by flight cancellations between 28 February and 2 March.

Megawati Unable to Attend Prabowo's Invitation at the Palace

PDIP chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri will not attend President Prabowo Subianto's gathering at the Presidential Palace this evening, as she is out of town attending a party event in Bali that was scheduled weeks in advance. The meeting was intended to bring together former presidents, former vice presidents, and party leaders to discuss geopolitical updates and seek their counsel on regional conflicts and national strategy.

Woman in Pademangan arrested for abandoning newborn baby from illicit relationship

The North Jakarta Metropolitan Police arrested a 20-year-old woman identified as DR for abandoning her newborn baby at Pasar Nalo in Pademangan Barat on 2 March 2026. The woman, who works as a pool table assembler at WTC Mangga Dua, gave birth at home without assistance and wrapped the baby in a sarong before placing it in a black rucksack. The infant was discovered approximately one hour later by residents hearing cries near the rubbish bins and was subsequently transferred to hospital care.

Labour Leaders Furious, Maintain Demand for Tax-Free Annual Holiday Allowance – Threaten Mass Protests

The Confederation of Indonesian Workers' Unions (KSPI) continues to press for tax-exempt status on Hari Raya (Lebaran) holiday bonuses and criticises the lack of government enforcement against companies failing to pay these mandatory allowances. Union leaders are planning a mass demonstration at the Labour Ministry on 4 March 2026, whilst also demanding accelerated parliamentary discussion of stalled labour law reforms.

Life Insurance Under Pressure as Pension Funds Become Industry Mainstay

Indonesia's insurance, guarantee and pension fund industry remained stable in early 2026 with strong solvency ratios, but life insurance premiums contracted 6.15% year-on-year whilst pension funds accelerated significantly with 11.21% asset growth. The divergence signals weakening demand for life insurance products despite adequate capitalisation, whilst mandatory and voluntary pension schemes increasingly support industry performance.

Driver in Bogor Fabricates Robbery Report to Cover Up Embezzlement of Hundreds of Milk Cartons

A delivery driver named Dasan in Bogor was arrested for filing a false robbery report to cover up the embezzlement of approximately 285 cartons of full-cream milk powder worth an estimated Rp50 million (approximately £2,500). Dasan initially claimed he had been assaulted and robbed by four unknown individuals, but police discovered inconsistencies in his account during their investigation. Upon further interrogation, he confessed that he had deliberately transferred the milk cartons to another vehicle for resale and fabricated the robbery report to avoid raising suspicion at his company.

Elderly Woman's Tears of Remorse as She Undergoes Fourth Tattoo Removal Session

Murni Dahlena, a 61-year-old woman from East Jakarta, participated in her fourth free tattoo removal programme organised by Baznas DKI Jakarta, driven by religious conviction and regret over tattoos she acquired in the 1980s. The free tattoo removal initiative, particularly active during Ramadan, serves as a social programme supporting individuals seeking spiritual reformation (hijrah) and is expanding to multiple locations across Jakarta. The programme aims to register 1,000 participants and is open to residents of Jakarta and surrounding areas through online registration until 4 March 2026.

Government Reviews Proposal to Exempt Workers' Holiday Allowance from Tax

The Minister of Manpower has confirmed that the 2026 holiday allowance (THR) will remain subject to income tax under Article 21 regulations, whilst committing to review workers' demands for tax exemption. The government currently employs an effective average rate mechanism for calculating holiday allowance taxes, with rates ranging from 0 to 34 per cent depending on employee income levels, though civil servants, military personnel, and police receive exemptions under separate regulations.

Archive Statistics

266,567
Total Articles
1012
News Sources
1994-2026
Coverage Period