Temporarily Suspended: What Were the Violations Committed by PT Bahtera Tullus Karya?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian Ministry of Migrant Workers’ Protection (KP2MI) has revealed several violations committed by PT Bahtera Tullus Karya, leading to the imposition of administrative sanctions in the form of a temporary suspension.

PT Bahtera Tullus Karya was found to have violated Article 9, paragraph (1), letters c, d, e, and k of the Minister of KP2MI/BP2MI Regulation No. 4 of 2025.

The violations include the company’s failure to conduct the selection process for prospective Indonesian migrant workers through the labour department at the district/city level or through the Integrated One-Stop Service (LTSA) for Indonesian Migrant Workers.

“The company also failed to report the results of the selection of prospective migrant workers to the labour department at the district/city level,” said Director General of KP2MI Protection, Rinardi, when met at his office on Thursday (February 26, 2026).

“What is the purpose of the OPP (Orientation and Preparation Program)? The OPP is actually mandated to ensure that before a prospective worker departs for abroad, they receive initial training. This training covers understanding contracts, local work culture, insurance, financial literacy, and anything else that can be provided within the OPP,” he said.

“And this was not done at all. This means they are sending workers without any preparation, effectively leaving them without information about what they will face in the future,” he added.

The most serious violation, according to Rinardi, is PT Bahtera Tullus Karya placing prospective Indonesian migrant workers in countries that are classified as closed destinations.

Since 2015, the government has maintained a moratorium on the placement of Indonesian migrant workers in the domestic sector in 15 countries in the Middle East, and this policy has not yet been lifted.

This provision is regulated in the Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 260 of 2015.

In addition, PT Bahtera Tullus Karya also violated Article 15, paragraph (1), letters i, j, k, and p of the Minister of Migrant Workers’ Protection/Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency Regulation No. 31 of 2025 concerning Standards for Business Activities and/or Product/Service Standards in the Implementation of Risk-Based Business Licensing in the Labour Sector for the Selection and Placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers.

However, during the inspection, no operational activity was found at the location.

There was also no company sign, which should be part of the licensing requirements.

As the holder of the Company’s Permit for the Placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers (SIP3MI), the company is required to install a sign and display the identity of the office as the official operational location of the P3MI.