SPPG Volunteer Work System Deemed in Violation of Labour Law

The General Coordinator of the People’s Movement to Sue-Indonesian People’s Care Alliance (Geram-Arpi), Dani Eko Wiyono, has highlighted concerns over the work scheme and system for volunteers in the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG). According to him, the current implementation of the SPPG volunteer work system can be categorised as a violation of the Labour Law.

Dani stated that the Labour Law has regulated the definition of workers and the employment system. “There is something odd about these volunteers between the Ministry of Manpower and the BGN. The Ministry of Manpower already has its own law. But the BGN is creating a new trick, calling them volunteers, with a note of daily payment,” Dani said after an audience at the Central Java Provincial Government Office in Semarang on Wednesday (24/6/2026).

According to him, SPPG workers cannot be called volunteers, especially since they receive fixed wages. “If they are called volunteers, they are not volunteers. Because they are actually pure workers, but ones who are not contracted,” he said.

Dani argued that the implementation of volunteer work at SPPG has violated the Labour Law. “It is clearly a violation. Why? Because they are labourers,” he stated.

He said the Labour Law stipulates that those referred to as labourers or workers are individuals who receive orders or work and wages. “These (SPPG) volunteers receive orders, receive work and wages. Therefore, anyone who receives orders, receives work and wages is a labourer or worker,” Dani asserted.

“Thus, it is inappropriate for them to be called volunteers. Volunteer is just a word created by the government to perpetuate the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme so it can run as usual,” Dani added.