Ministry of Manpower Handles 1,461 THR Violations
The Ministry of Manpower is processing complaints about violations of religious holiday allowances (THR) reported by workers. As of 25 March 2026, 173 cases have been resolved, while 1,461 cases remain under handling.
Manpower Minister Yassierli has requested governors to follow up on every report received through the Ministry of Manpower’s THR Post and labour offices. “I ask the governors to immediately deploy labour inspectors to examine every incoming report, whether through the Ministry of Manpower’s THR Post or posts at labour offices,” said Yassierli in an official statement quoted on Sunday, 29 March 2026.
From all reports collected up to 25 March 2026, the Ministry of Manpower has issued 200 Performance Inspection Reports, 7 Inspection Notes I, and 4 recommendations.
Previously, Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor stated that between 21-25 March 2025, there were 102 new complaints reported by workers. However, THR must be given no later than seven days before the holiday.
Since the post opened until Wednesday, 25 March 2025, the total complaints entered into the system have reached 2,443. In contrast, during Eid 2025 in the same period, the post collected 2,415 complaints. “So this year’s complaints are still considerable,” Afriansyah told Tempo on Wednesday, 25 March 2026.
According to Afriansyah, the issues with religious holiday allowance payments are generally the same year after year. He suspects that if layoffs occur after Eid, THR violation complaints will increase.
Afriansyah said the controversy over allowance payments arises not only from non-compliance but also from company financial problems. Thus, similar issues will continue to recur. “Our prediction is that THR complaints or problems will never be fully resolved,” he stated.
The provision of THR is a company obligation that must be paid in full and cannot be instalment. Based on Ministry of Manpower Regulation number 6 of 2016, companies that delay THR payments will be fined 5 percent of the total THR that must be paid. This fine does not eliminate the employer’s obligation to still pay the allowance.
A series of sanctions await employers who do not pay THR. Based on Government Regulation (GR) Number 36 of 2021 on Wages, companies may face administrative sanctions such as written reprimands, restrictions on business activities, temporary suspension of some or all production equipment, up to freezing of business activities.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Manpower Sector of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Bob Azam stated that the annual THR payment controversy stems from two factors. “The THR issue combines compliance and financial problems (of companies),” he told Tempo on Wednesday, 25 March 2026.
According to him, THR distribution has become a culture, even in the informal sector which is not strictly monitored by law. Although there is an intention to comply, companies sometimes face financial constraints.
In addition, he believes there is a need for effective internal bipartite dialogue between employers and employees so that this problem does not recur. He suspects that such discussions have not been a priority so far. “It seems trivial, but this is the basic foundation of healthy industrial relations,” he said.
While acknowledging the factor of company financial difficulties, Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor assured that companies failing to fulfil their THR payment obligations will be dealt with. “Companies that do not comply with the payment exhortation will be given administrative sanctions and fines,” he said.