Free legal aid for workers in Indonesia: who qualifies and how to apply
Law 16/2011 gives free legal aid to people on low incomes through accredited providers such as LBH. Who qualifies, how to apply and other help for workers.
Legal status: the Labour Protection Law was approved by the DPR and the Government on 6 October 2026 but has not been promulgated and its text is not public. Until it takes effect, the rules on this page apply.
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat RI (emedia); Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI
Summary
- Under Law 16/2011, legal aid is legal services given free of charge to poor people or groups (Article 1).
- It covers civil, criminal and administrative matters, in and out of court (Article 4).
- Legal aid providers must be legal entities and accredited (Article 8), and may not ask for or accept payment (Article 20).
- You can apply in writing or orally, with your case documents and a letter of poverty from the lurah or village head (Article 14).
- A trade union can represent its members at the Industrial Relations Court (Law 2/2004 Article 87).
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On this page
What is free legal aid in Indonesia?
Law 16/2011 on Legal Aid, in force since 2 November 2011, defines legal aid as legal services given free of charge by a legal aid provider to a recipient (Article 1, point 1). Providers are legal aid institutions or community organisations that meet the law's conditions (Article 1, point 3). Aid covers civil, criminal and administrative matters, both in court (litigation) and out of court, including acting under a power of attorney, accompanying, representing and defending the recipient (Article 4).
Who qualifies for free legal aid?
Recipients are poor people or groups who cannot meet their basic rights properly and independently (Law 16/2011 Article 5(1)). Basic rights include food, clothing, health care, education, work and business, and/or housing (Article 5(2)). Recipients are entitled to aid until the problem is solved or the case is final, as long as they do not withdraw the power of attorney (Article 12).
How do I apply for legal aid?
Apply to a legal aid provider. Under Law 16/2011 Article 14(1), the application states at least your identity and a short description of the problem, with documents related to the case and a letter of poverty from the lurah, village head or equivalent official. If you cannot write the application, you can apply orally (Article 14(2)). For a work case, bring your contract, payslips, letters from the company, and bipartite or mediation minutes if you have them.
Where can I find an accredited legal aid provider?
Legal aid providers must be legal entities, accredited, with a permanent office, management and a legal aid programme (Law 16/2011 Article 8). The National Law Development Agency (BPHN) runs the SID Bantuan Hukum system at sidbankum.bphn.go.id, which publishes the Minister's decision listing organisations that passed verification and accreditation as legal aid providers, plus the service standards. Choose an organisation on that list close to where you live.
Can a legal aid provider ask for payment?
No. Law 16/2011 Article 20 bars legal aid providers from asking for or accepting payment from the recipient and/or anyone linked to the case they handle. Article 21 makes this a criminal offence punishable by up to 1 year in prison or a fine. If someone offering free legal aid asks for money, do not pay and check the organisation's status.
Can a trade union help me?
Yes. Every worker has the right to form and join a trade union (Law 13/2003 Article 104). A union can accompany you in bipartite negotiations, and can act as legal representative for its members at the Industrial Relations Court (Law 2/2004 Article 87). If there is a union at your workplace, contact its officers early.
What help is available for migrant workers?
Protection for migrant workers during work includes help settling cases, assistance, mediation, advocacy and legal aid in the form of access to lawyers arranged by the central government and/or the Indonesian mission, plus help with repatriation (Law 18/2017 Article 21(1)). Contact KP2MI or the Indonesian mission in the country where you work, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Peduli WNI.
Where else can I get help?
For workplace disputes, the official route is bipartite talks and then mediation at the labour office; the steps are in Labour dispute mediation. For job scams, see Where to report. If a public service ignores your complaint, see the Panduan Warga guide to public-service complaints.
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Kemnaker help centre and call centre
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Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)
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Peduli WNI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
+62-812-9007-0027WhatsApp +62-812-9007-0027 peduliwni.kemlu.go.id
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SP4N-LAPOR! public complaints
Not legal advice. For your own case, contact the official channels listed.
Frequently asked questions
I am not poor. Can I still get help?
Free legal aid under Law 16/2011 is for poor people or groups (Article 5). If you do not qualify, a trade union can still represent you at the Industrial Relations Court (Law 2/2004 Article 87), you can use mediation at the labour office, or you can hire a lawyer with a clear fee agreement.
Someone claiming to be from a legal aid office asked for a down payment. Is that normal?
Legal aid providers under Law 16/2011 are barred from asking for or accepting payment from the person they help or anyone linked to the case (Article 20), and breaches are a criminal offence (Article 21). Check whether the organisation is listed as an accredited legal aid provider on BPHN's SID Bantuan Hukum website.
Do migrant workers in trouble abroad get legal help?
Yes. Law 18/2017 Article 21(1)(f) says protection during work includes assistance, mediation, advocacy and legal aid in the form of access to lawyers arranged by the central government and/or the Indonesian mission. Contact KP2MI or the nearest Indonesian mission.
Who wrote and reviewed this page?
Sources
The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.
- DPR Sahkan UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan (emedia DPR RI, 7 Oktober 2026) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat RI (emedia) · accessed
- Menaker Ungkap Poin Penting UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan yang Wajib Diketahui Pekerja Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI · accessed
- Undang-Undang Nomor 16 Tahun 2011 tentang Bantuan Hukum Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 16/2011 · accessed
- Aplikasi SID Bantuan Hukum (Badan Pembinaan Hukum Nasional) Badan Pembinaan Hukum Nasional, Kementerian Hukum RI · accessed
- Undang-Undang Nomor 2 Tahun 2004 tentang Penyelesaian Perselisihan Hubungan Industrial Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 2/2004 · accessed
- Undang-Undang Nomor 13 Tahun 2003 tentang Ketenagakerjaan JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id) · UU 13/2003 · accessed
- Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed
How to cite
KarirAman (2026). Free legal aid for workers in Indonesia: who qualifies and how to apply. Updated 7 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/workers-rights/free-legal-aid/
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