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Welders in Indonesia: duties, welder certificates, pay and legal routes to work abroad

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by Kaiser Khan (editor), Updated

Welders in Indonesia need to pass a test and hold a welder certificate. Work abroad only through legal routes, never on a tourist visa.

Summary

High scam risk
  • Ministerial Regulation PER.02/MEN/1982, still in force according to JDIH Kemnaker, says a welder counts as skilled only after passing a test and holding a welder certificate.
  • Indonesia's welding SKKNI was set by Kepmenaker 98/2018 and extended by Kepmenaker 121/2025; the 2018 standard refers to ISO 9606-1 and AWS D1.1.
  • In Japan, welding falls under the SSW industrial manufacturing, shipbuilding and railway fields, with JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 as the language test.
  • Law 18/2017 Article 30(1): migrant workers may not be charged placement costs; KP2MI Regulation 17/2025 allows only costs written in the Placement Agreement.
  • Overseas welder offers from individual recruiters with visit visas or registration fees are signs of fraud, according to the Ministry of Manpower.
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On this page
  1. What does a welder do in Indonesia?
  2. What do you need to work as a welder in Indonesia?
  3. What does a typical welder job description look like?
  4. How much does a welder earn in Indonesia?
  5. Which education routes lead to welding work?
  6. Can welders from Indonesia work abroad?
  7. Which welding certificates are most useful?
  8. What interview questions might you be asked for welder jobs?
  9. Which job scams target welders?
  10. Where can you find safe welder vacancies?
  11. Which careers are similar?

What does a welder do in Indonesia?

Welders join metal using welding processes according to drawings and the welding procedure specification (WPS). The work covers preparing and fitting material, welding plates or pipes in different positions, inspecting welds visually and repairing defects. Welders work in factories, fabrication shops, construction projects, shipyards or the oil and gas industry, under strict hot-work safety procedures. Employers usually ask for a welder certificate for the process and position, and work abroad is only safe through legal routes.

  • Read drawings and welding procedure specifications (WPS).
  • Prepare material: cut, grind and fit up plates or pipes.
  • Weld using processes such as SMAW, GMAW, FCAW or GTAW in different positions.
  • Inspect welds visually and repair defects.
  • Maintain welding machines, cables and tools.
  • Wear protective equipment and follow hot-work safety procedures.
  • Record work done and report problems to the supervisor.

What do you need to work as a welder in Indonesia?

Ministerial Regulation PER.02/MEN/1982 says a welder at a workplace counts as skilled only after passing a welding test and holding a class I, II or III welder certificate, with a minimum age of 18 and basic welding training. JDIH Kemnaker lists the regulation as still in force. Adverts usually also ask for a technical SMK or welding training, and a certificate matching the process and position required.

What does a typical welder job description look like?

Welder adverts in Indonesia usually look for welders certified for a particular process (for example SMAW or GTAW) and position, able to read drawings and ready for project sites. Oil, gas and shipyard projects often require a new welding test before work starts. We wrote the description below ourselves from common advertising patterns. It is not a vacancy from any company, so there is no apply button.

General example, not a vacancy

We wrote this description ourselves from what job ads usually ask for. It is not a vacancy from any company.

Commonly requested requirements

  • A welding or mechanical engineering vocational school (SMK) background, or welding training at a BLK/BPVP centre.
  • A welder certificate or welding competency certificate for the process and position required.
  • Plate or pipe welding experience for mid-level posts.
  • Able to read drawings and understand welding symbols.
  • Healthy and ready to work in heat, at height or in confined spaces as the project requires.

Skills

Reading drawings, SMAW, GMAW/FCAW, GTAW, Fit-up, Visual weld inspection, Hot-work safety, Precision.

Ministry of Manpower Circular M/6/HK.04/V/2025 bars employers from discriminating on any basis in recruitment. An age requirement is allowed only where the nature of the job genuinely affects ability and it does not remove the chance of work, and the same applies to workers with disabilities. Law 13/2003 Articles 5 and 6 guarantee equal opportunity and treatment without discrimination. JDIH Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id)

How much does a welder earn in Indonesia?

KarirAman does not show a welder pay figure yet because no data meets our standard: verified vacancies with a large enough sample, licensed data or an official pay scale. Workers with less than one year of service may not be paid below the local minimum wage under PP 36/2021 Articles 23 and 24. For jobs abroad, check the pay in the official job order on SISKOP2MI.

Welder: available pay data (as of 8 October 2026)
Data Figure Notes
Pay range in KarirAman verified vacancies Not enough data yet (n < 30)
Average net wage of employees, Manufacturing (BPS Sakernas May 2026) IDR 3,420,740 reference for the Manufacturing sector, not specific to this career; net (after deductions) Badan Pusat Statistik
Minimum wage (UMP/UMK) as the floor IDR 2,317,601 to IDR 5,729,876 Lowest 2026 UMP IDR 2,317,601 (West Java), highest IDR 5,729,876 (Jakarta) Micro and small businesses are exempt from the minimum wage rules; pay there is set by agreement and still has a legal floor. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)

Check your city's minimum wage (2026) Work out your take-home pay How we handle salary data

Which education routes lead to welding work?

The usual route is a welding or mechanical engineering SMK, or welding training at a BLK/BPVP centre, followed by a competency test. The welding SKKNI (Kepmenaker 98/2018, extended by Kepmenaker 121/2025) is the basis for tests at BNSP-licensed bodies (LSP). For some projects or jobs abroad there are international certifications such as ISO 9606-1 or the AWS Certified Welder programme, tested at accredited facilities.

Can welders from Indonesia work abroad?

Welders can work abroad through legal routes. In Japan, welding is a main task in the SSW industrial manufacturing, shipbuilding and railway fields, with JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 as the language test. South Korea takes metal-industry workers through EPS via KP2MI's government-to-government programme. According to Antara, KP2MI also trained welders for the Czech Republic and Slovakia in November 2025. Always check vacancies on SISKOP2MI.

Which welding certificates are most useful?

The most useful certificate matches the welding process and position the employer asks for. In Indonesia there is the welder certificate under PER.02/MEN/1982 and competency certificates from BNSP-licensed bodies based on the welding SKKNI. For international projects, ISO 9606-1:2012 and the AWS Certified Welder programme are widely used; AWS certification must be maintained every six months to stay active.

What interview questions might you be asked for welder jobs?

Interview questions for welder jobs often cover the machines or equipment you have used, occupational safety and health, defects or faulty machines, meeting targets without cutting quality, and shift or site work. Each example below comes with why it is asked and how to answer it. The Ministry of Manpower warns that an instant chat interview without formal confirmation is one sign of a fake job.

Republika (official statement via media)

General examples written by KarirAman, not questions from any particular company. How to practise: read the question, answer it out loud, then open the guidance to compare.

Questions for this field

Which machines, equipment or engineering software have you operated?

Why they ask: The company wants to know how quickly you can work safely on its line or site.

How to answer: Name the machines or tools, how long you used them, the basic maintenance you did and any certificate you actually hold.

How do you apply health and safety rules where you work?

Why they ask: Accidents hurt workers and can stop production.

How to answer: Name real habits: wearing protective equipment, following procedures, reporting hazards and stopping work when it is unsafe.

What do you do if you find a defective product or a faulty machine?

Why they ask: An ignored problem can lead to many rejects or an accident.

How to answer: Say you stop or set aside the item according to procedure, report to your supervisor and record what happened instead of hiding it.

How do you meet production targets without lowering quality?

Why they ask: Factories and projects need speed and results that meet the standard.

How to answer: Explain how you keep a steady pace, check your output regularly and tell your supervisor when a target is not realistic.

Are you ready for shift work or work on a project site?

Why they ask: Many plants and projects run day and night or far from town.

How to answer: Answer honestly, then ask about the rota, overtime records, transport and accommodation, and get them in writing before you travel.

Which competency certificates do you hold and until when are they valid?

Why they ask: High-risk work often requires certificates that are still valid.

How to answer: State the certificate, the issuer and its validity honestly. Bring copies; show originals only for checking, never to be kept by the employer.

Common questions that also come up (12 questions)

  • Tell me about yourself.

    Answer in about a minute: where you are now in work or study, two experiences that matter for this job, then why you applied. Personal matters such as family status are not needed.

  • Why did you apply to this company?

    Mention one or two real things you learned from the company's official website, such as its business or services, and link them to your skills.

  • Why are you interested in this role?

    Pick two tasks from the job advert, describe similar things you have done, and say which part you most want to grow in.

  • What are your strengths?

    Name one or two strengths and give short proof: the situation, what you did and the result.

  • What is your weakness?

    Choose a real weakness that is not central to the job, then explain what you are doing to improve it.

  • Tell me about a problem at work or school that you solved.

    Use the STAR pattern: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Focus on what you yourself did and what you learned.

  • How do you work in a team, including when people disagree?

    Give a real example of listening, explaining your view politely and finding a solution everyone accepted.

  • How do you handle pressure or tight deadlines?

    Explain how you set priorities, such as a task list or checking with your supervisor, and give one example of the outcome.

  • Where do you see yourself in two or three years?

    Mention the skills you want to master and the responsibility you hope to take on, without promising things you cannot know.

  • What salary do you expect?

    First research the pay range for the role and the local minimum wage where you would work. Give a range, then ask whether the figure is gross or net and which allowances apply.

  • When can you start?

    Give a realistic date. If you are still employed, mention the notice period in your current contract so you do not break it.

  • Do you have any questions for us?

    Ask about the contract type, working hours, base pay and allowances, the next selection step and when results are announced. Ask for the offer in writing.

Warning signs in interviews (6)

  • The interview happens only by WhatsApp or Telegram chat with no formal invitation, or you are pushed to be interviewed on the spot.

    What to do: Ask for a written invitation from a company-domain e-mail address, then match the contact with the official website you look up yourself.

    Republika (official statement via media)Kompas TV (official statement via media)detikFinance

  • You are asked to pay for a test, a psychological test, a medical check-up, training or a uniform, or to book tickets and a hotel through an appointed agent with a promise of reimbursement.

    What to do: Do not transfer anything. The Ministry of Manpower says legitimate recruitment does not charge applicants.

    Kompas TV (official statement via media)Republika (official statement via media)Koran Jakarta (official statement via media)PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA)

  • The interview is held in a hotel room, a private house or another closed place that is not an office, or the location keeps changing. An invitation to stay overnight, or any sexual demand, as a condition for being hired or for renewing a contract is also a warning sign.

    What to do: Ask for the interview at the office or a public place, tell someone close to you where you are, and leave if you feel unsafe. Sexual demands can be reported to the police or the local manpower office (Disnaker). If you are in danger, call the police.

    Koran Jakarta (official statement via media)detikBali (detik.com) (official statement via media)Medcom.id (official statement via media)

  • You are asked for a photo of your KTP or family card, a selfie holding your ID, your bank account number, an OTP code, a PIN or a password before any written job offer.

    What to do: Do not send them. OJK says never to give an OTP, PIN or password to anyone, and identity data can be misused for illegal online loans.

    Kompas TV (official statement via media)Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (Sekretariat Satgas PASTI)Koran Jakarta (official statement via media)

  • The interview invitation arrives as an app file (APK) or a link that asks you to install an app.

    What to do: Do not open it. OJK and Kominfo warn that fake APK files can read SMS messages with OTP codes and then drain bank accounts.

    CNN Indonesia (official statement via media)

  • After the interview you are asked to hand over your original diploma or other original personal documents as a guarantee for the job.

    What to do: Ministry of Manpower Circular M/5/HK.04.00/V/2025 bars employers from requiring or holding original diplomas and personal documents as a guarantee for the job. The only exception is a diploma or competency certificate from education or training paid for by the employer under a written employment agreement, and the employer must keep it safe and compensate you if it is damaged or lost. Otherwise, show them for checking, then take them home.

    Dinas Tenaga Kerja Kota Batam (meneruskan SE Menteri Ketenagakerjaan RI)

In danger or held at an interview location? Call the police:

See all interview questions Build an ATS CV Write a cover letter

Which job scams target welders?

The most dangerous scam is an offer of welding work abroad from an individual recruiter with a registration fee, a visit visa and a promise of fast departure; the Ministry of Manpower lists these as signs of overseas job fraud. Law 18/2017 Article 30(1) says migrant workers may not be charged placement costs, and KP2MI Regulation 17/2025 allows only costs written in the Placement Agreement.

Warning signs in welder job ads

Learn the signs of trafficking through job offers

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Where can you find safe welder vacancies?

For jobs in Indonesia, look for welder vacancies on companies' official careers sites, the Ministry of Manpower's Karirhub portal and Disnaker job fairs. For jobs abroad, use the official SISKOP2MI vacancy list and check the agency on the list of licensed P3MI, including the list of sanctioned agencies. KarirAman does not list verified welder vacancies yet.

No verified vacancies for this role yet

We only list vacancies we have checked. In the meantime, look for jobs on these official channels.

Which careers are similar?

See other careers in Manufacturing and technical

Frequently asked questions

Do welders in Indonesia need a certificate?

Under Ministerial Regulation PER.02/MEN/1982, a welder at a workplace counts as skilled only after passing a welding test and holding a class I, II or III welder certificate. JDIH Kemnaker lists the regulation as still in force. Many projects also ask for a competency certificate from a BNSP-licensed body (LSP) or one based on international standards such as ISO 9606-1.

Can welders work in Japan through the SSW route?

Yes. According to Japan's Immigration Services Agency, welding is a main task in the SSW industrial product manufacturing, shipbuilding and railway fields; the construction field does not list it. You need to pass that field's skills test and the JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 language test. Check the route status and vacancies on SISKOP2MI before signing up with any organisation.

How do welders get to work in South Korea?

South Korea takes factory workers, including in the metal and machinery industries, through the Employment Permit System (EPS). From Indonesia the route is the government-to-government programme run by KP2MI, with the EPS-TOPIK language test for candidates aged 18 to 39. The official EPS site says passing EPS-TOPIK only places you in the job-seeker pool and does not guarantee a job.

Do welders have to pay to work abroad?

Law 18/2017 Article 30(1) says Indonesian migrant workers may not be charged placement costs. KP2MI Regulation 17/2025 makes the employer bear placement costs by default, and you may be charged only costs written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. Any request for money outside that document, in cash or to a personal account, is a red flag.

How can I check a welding job offer in the Middle East?

Look up the agency on the SISKOP2MI list of licensed P3MI and make sure its status is active, then match the vacancy against the official SISKOP2MI job list. The Ministry of Manpower lists individual recruiters, registration fees, pay that is too high and departure on a visit visa as signs of overseas job fraud. Never hand your passport to a recruiter who has not been shown to be official.

Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published Updated

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: .

Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

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How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Welders in Indonesia: duties, welder certificates, pay and legal routes to work abroad. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/careers/welder/

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