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SIO operator licences in Indonesia for forklift, heavy equipment and crane operators

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

How forklift, heavy-equipment and crane operators in Indonesia get an SIO (K3 licence): requirements, issuing bodies, validity and fake certificates.

Summary

  • Manpower Regulation 8/2020 calls the licence for forklift, heavy equipment and crane operators a Lisensi K3 (K3 licence); the term SIO does not appear in it.
  • Operators need a competence certificate as proof of skill and a K3 licence as proof of authority (Manpower Regulation 8/2020, Article 140).
  • The K3 licence is issued by the ministry's Director General on a written application from the operator's employer (Article 159).
  • An operator's K3 licence is valid for 5 years and can be renewed for the same period (Article 162(2)).
  • Manpower Regulation 11/2026 revoked only the labour-inspector provisions of Manpower Regulation 8/2020; the operator licence rules still apply.
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On this page
  1. What is an SIO, and how is it different from a K3 licence?
  2. Which rule applies now: Manpower Regulation 8/2020 or 11/2026?
  3. How do operators get an SIO licence in Indonesia?
  4. What are the requirements for forklift, heavy equipment and crane operators?
  5. How long is an SIO valid, and how is it renewed?
  6. How can I check whether an SIO is genuine?
  7. What are the official fees for a K3 licence?
  8. What are the PNBP fees for a K3 licence?
  9. What are the warning signs in SIO training offers?

What is an SIO, and how is it different from a K3 licence?

SIO, short for surat izin operator (operator permit), is the everyday name for the authority card of forklift, heavy equipment and crane operators. In the rule in force, Manpower Regulation 8/2020, the card is called a Lisensi K3: an authority card to work as a technician, operator or rigger of lifting and transport equipment (Article 1(18)). The word SIO appears neither in Manpower Regulation 8/2020 nor in the rule it replaced, Regulation 9/2010. A ministry training centre itself writes it as Lisensi/SIO K3. So when a job ad asks for an SIO, it means the K3 licence.

Which rule applies now: Manpower Regulation 8/2020 or 11/2026?

Both apply, to different things. Manpower Regulation 8/2020 on safety of lifting and transport equipment still sets operator qualifications and the K3 licence. Manpower Regulation 11/2026 on labour inspection procedures, in force since 3 July 2026, revoked only the provisions on specialist K3 labour inspectors in Regulation 8/2020: Article 1(5), Article 141(4) and Article 173(3) (Article 53(i)). The articles on operator requirements, applications and licence validity did not change.

How do operators get an SIO licence in Indonesia?

There are two stages. First, prove your competence: take training and then a competence test for a competence certificate for the type of equipment (Manpower Regulation 8/2020, Article 140(3)). If no competence certificate scheme exists yet, a letter showing you followed K3 training (pembinaan K3) from the Director General may be used (Article 161). Second, your employer applies in writing to the Director General with a copy of your last diploma, a work-experience letter from the company, a doctor's fitness letter, a copy of your ID card, a copy of the competence certificate and photos. Once the documents are evaluated and accepted, the Director General issues the K3 licence (Article 159).

What are the requirements for forklift, heavy equipment and crane operators?

Manpower Regulation 8/2020 sets different requirements by equipment. Forklift operator class II: at least junior high school (SMP), at least 1 year assisting in the field, fit according to a doctor, at least 19 years old, a competence certificate and a K3 licence; class I: at least senior high school (SMA), 2 years and 20 years old (Article 153). Excavator, loader, dozer and similar operators have no classes: SMP, 1 year, fit, 19 years old, competence certificate and K3 licence (Articles 152(2) and 155). Crane operator class III: SMP, 1 year, 19; class II: SMA, 1 year, 19; class I: SMA, 2 years, 20 (Article 148).

How long is an SIO valid, and how is it renewed?

A K3 licence for technicians, operators and riggers is valid for 5 years and can be renewed for the same period (Manpower Regulation 8/2020, Article 162(2)). The employer applies for renewal to the Director General (Article 162(4)). The ministry's online service for K3 personnel, TemanK3, has a menu for renewing licences and SKP letters and for creating a personal account. Note your licence's end date and start the renewal before it.

How can I check whether an SIO is genuine?

Use the Cari Data Personel (search personnel) menu on TemanK3 (temank3.kemnaker.go.id), which searches K3 personnel by full name and date of birth. Compare the name, equipment type, class and validity with the card. The K3 licence is issued by the Director General after the documents are checked and evaluated, with a competence certificate as a condition (Manpower Regulation 8/2020, Article 159). An offer of a ready-made SIO without training and a competence test does not follow that process, so refuse it and report it.

What are the official fees for a K3 licence?

The official fees for evaluating and issuing or renewing a K3 licence are non-tax state revenue (PNBP) set by Government Regulation 41/2023; the amounts are in the table below. For micro and small businesses the tariff is set at zero (Article 4), and all PNBP must be paid into the state treasury (Article 6). Training and competence-test fees at training providers or certification bodies are separate from this PNBP; ask for a written breakdown.

What are the PNBP fees for a K3 licence?

The PNBP fees for a K3 licence are listed in Government Regulation 41/2023 on the types and tariffs of non-tax revenue of the Ministry of Manpower, in force since 9 October 2023. These fees go to the state treasury, not to individuals.

PNBP fees for a K3 licence under Government Regulation 41/2023
MeasureFigurePeriod
Evaluation for a K3 licence for operators, technicians or riggers, per personIDR 120,0009 October 2023 to 8 October 2026
Issue or renewal of a K3 licence, per documentIDR 150,0009 October 2023 to 8 October 2026

JDIH BPK RI

What are the warning signs in SIO training offers?

An SIO training offer deserves suspicion if it promises something the rules do not allow. Watch for:

  • A "ready" SIO or a card issued without training and a competence test, although a K3 licence requires a competence certificate (Manpower Regulation 8/2020, Articles 140 and 159).
  • Payment to a personal bank account for "issuing fees", although PNBP is paid into the state treasury (Government Regulation 41/2023).
  • A card for equipment you have never operated, although the qualification must match the type and capacity of the equipment (Article 141(2)).
  • A job that holds your diploma or certificate as a guarantee; see withheld diploma.

Before you sign up for training, check that the programme is tested by a BNSP-licensed certification body; see BNSP competency certification. Related career guides: forklift operator and heavy equipment operator.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an SIO from the local labour office (Disnaker)?

Under Article 159 of Manpower Regulation 8/2020, an operator's K3 licence is issued by the Director General at the Ministry of Manpower, after the employer applies in writing and the documents are evaluated. Training and the competence test come first, and under that article the licence itself is issued by the Director General.

Does a forklift SIO cover operating an excavator?

No. Operators must hold the qualification for the type and capacity of the equipment (Manpower Regulation 8/2020, Article 141(2)). Forklifts use class II and class I, while excavators, loaders and dozers have no classes. Each needs a competence certificate and a K3 licence for that type of equipment.

What is the difference between a BNSP certificate and an SIO?

A competence certificate, for example from a BNSP-licensed professional certification body, proves you can operate the equipment. The K3 licence proves you are authorised to operate it at work. Article 140(3) and (4) of Manpower Regulation 8/2020 require both.

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.

  1. Peraturan Menteri Ketenagakerjaan Nomor 8 Tahun 2020 tentang K3 Pesawat Angkat dan Pesawat Angkut (Lisensi K3 operator) JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id) · Permenaker 8/2020 · accessed
  2. Peraturan Menteri Ketenagakerjaan Nomor 11 Tahun 2026 tentang Tata Cara Pengawasan Ketenagakerjaan JDIH BPK RI · Permenaker 11/2026 · accessed
  3. Peraturan Menteri Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi Nomor PER.09/MEN/VII/2010 tentang Operator dan Petugas Pesawat Angkat dan Angkut (dicabut) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permenakertrans PER.09/MEN/VII/2010 · accessed
  4. Balai Pelatihan Vokasi dan Produktivitas Samarinda (Kemnaker): halaman instruktur yang mencantumkan 'Lisensi/SIO K3 Operator' BPVP Samarinda, Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan · accessed
  5. TemanK3 (Ditjen Binwasnaker dan K3, Kemnaker): Cari Data Personel dan perpanjangan Lisensi/SKP Ditjen Binwasnaker dan K3, Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan · accessed
  6. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 41 Tahun 2023 tentang Jenis dan Tarif atas Jenis Penerimaan Negara Bukan Pajak yang Berlaku pada Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan JDIH BPK RI · PP 41/2023 · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). SIO operator licences in Indonesia for forklift, heavy equipment and crane operators. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/guides/operator-licence-sio/

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