Manpower Minister threatens sanctions against PT ASL if occupational safety recommendations not followed
Batam (ANTARA) — Manpower Minister Yassierli has affirmed the government will not hesitate to impose sanctions on PT ASL Shipyard Indonesia in Batam, Riau Islands, should the company fail to act on occupational health and safety (K3) recommendations already issued.
“There are seven recommendations that PT ASL Shipyard must comply with. Some improvements have been made, but many workplace accident risks remain. If they are not followed up, we will not hesitate to impose sanctions,” he said in Batam on Tuesday.
The warning was delivered during a direct visit to the shipyard, following a spate of workplace accidents that claimed lives throughout 2025.
“I am here at PT ASL today to demonstrate that occupational health and safety is a matter of serious concern for us. We want to ensure that every worker can work safely — leaving home well and returning home safely,” he said.
He highlighted four workplace accidents that occurred within less than a year, three of which resulted in fatalities.
“We deeply regret the series of incidents here that have cost lives. Of four accidents, three involved fatalities, with a total of 20 people losing their lives. This is something we profoundly regret,” he said.
On 24 June 2025, a fire broke out aboard the vessel MT Federal II, killing four workers and injuring five others.
A further incident occurred on 15 October 2025 on the same vessel, killing 14 people and injuring 17 other workers.
On 29 December 2025, two workers died from electrocution during ship painting. Another fire broke out on 25 January 2026, though without fatalities.
Yassierli said his visit was intended to ensure follow-up on audits and inspections carried out by labour inspectors in conjunction with the Riau Islands Provincial Manpower and Transmigration Office (Disnakertrans).
“I am here to ensure follow-up on the audit and the seven key findings that PT ASL must address. I urge that all recommendations be heeded, as these concern workers’ lives — otherwise we will not hesitate to impose sanctions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Riau Islands Provincial Disnakertrans Head Diky Wijaya confirmed that his office had issued seven mandatory recommendations that PT ASL’s management must implement immediately, dating from November 2025.
“First, the investigation team has requested the company leadership temporarily suspend ongoing work on the vessel Federal II. Second, all compartments and tanks with air access to the work area must be cleaned of flammable materials,” he said.
Third, the company must immediately appoint a certified K3 expert in the field of working environments to provide feasibility recommendations before work resumes, including appointing confined-space gas detection technicians, confined-space work technicians, and confined-space rescue officers.
He said this was in accordance with Manpower Ministerial Regulation Number 11 of 2023, as well as high-rise work requirements under Manpower Ministerial Regulation Number 9 of 2016.
“The fourth recommendation is that the company must provide confined-space K3 facilities and infrastructure such as blowers, exhaust systems, and personal gas detectors for every worker,” Diky said.
Fifth, a formal warning must be issued to the Health, Safety, Environment (HSE) Manager and Ship Repair Manager over alleged negligence in K3 implementation.
Sixth, all repairs to vessels carrying crude oil or chemicals must adhere to working procedures and requirements to prevent recurrence.
“Finally, the seventh: as the principal contractor, PT ASL must ensure all subcontractors and their workers comply with K3 provisions in accordance with applicable regulations,” he said.