Indonesia's new labour law 2026: is it in force yet, and what does it mean for workers?

Indonesia's DPR and Government approved the new Labour Protection Law on 6 October 2026. It is not yet promulgated, so the current rules still apply.

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

  • Indonesia's new labour law was approved by the DPR and the Government on 6 October 2026, but as of 7 October 2026 it had not been promulgated.
  • Your rights today, such as contracts, overtime, THR, severance and BPJS, still follow Law 13/2003 as amended by Law 6/2023, PP 35/2021 and PP 36/2021.
  • Until the new law takes effect, a PKWT may last at most 5 years including extensions (PP 35/2021 Article 8).
  • There is no registration or fee linked to the new law. A request for money for a 'new law programme' is a red flag.
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On this page
  1. Is Indonesia's new labour law in force?
  2. Why is Indonesia passing a new labour law?
  3. Do the Job Creation law and Law 13/2003 still apply?
  4. What may change for workers, according to the Government?
  5. What changes for severance and fixed-term (PKWT) contracts?
  6. What should workers do now?
  7. When will this page be updated?
  8. Which workers' rights pages are affected?

Is Indonesia's new labour law in force?

Not yet. Indonesia's new labour law, officially the Labour Protection Law (UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan), was approved by the DPR and the Government at a DPR plenary session on 6 October 2026. As of 7 October 2026 it had no number, had not been promulgated, and its text was not public. So your rights and duties today still follow Law 13/2003 as amended by Law 6/2023, PP 35/2021 and PP 36/2021. Its official status, number and PDF are recorded on our Labour Protection Law regulation page.

Why is Indonesia passing a new labour law?

Constitutional Court ruling 168/PUU-XXI/2023, delivered on 31 October 2024, reviewed the labour cluster of Law 6/2023 on Job Creation. The Court changed how several articles must be read, including the PKWT limit, weekly rest, sectoral minimum wages, dismissal procedure and severance as a minimum. It also found that lawmakers should pass a new labour law separate from Law 6/2023 within at most 2 years. The Labour Protection Law was drafted to implement that ruling.

Do the Job Creation law and Law 13/2003 still apply?

Yes, for now. Until the Labour Protection Law is promulgated and its provisions take effect, employment is still governed by Law 13/2003 as amended by Law 6/2023 (the Job Creation law), read with Constitutional Court ruling 168/PUU-XXI/2023, and by PP 35/2021 and PP 36/2021. When the new rules replace them is set by the new law's closing and transitional articles. The Ministry of Manpower's Director General for Industrial Relations and Social Security mentioned a one-year transition (quoted by CNBC Indonesia, 6 October 2026), but only the official text can confirm it.

What may change for workers, according to the Government?

The Ministry of Manpower's official summary of 7 October 2026 mentions, among other things, a ban on discrimination in hiring and pay, protection of job seekers from brokers and fake vacancies, apprenticeships with an allowance and social security, a ban on withholding diplomas, maternity and miscarriage leave, and a severance reserve fund. This is the Government's summary, not articles you can rely on today. The full list of points, and the articles that change once the text is published, are on our Labour Protection Law regulation page.

What changes for severance and fixed-term (PKWT) contracts?

Nothing can be quoted from an official source yet. Neither the Ministry of Manpower's official summary nor the DPR's official news gives a new PKWT time limit or new severance amounts, and the text is not public, so KarirAman does not publish new figures. Until the new law takes effect, a time-based PKWT may last at most 5 years including extensions (PP 35/2021 Article 8 and Constitutional Court ruling 168/PUU-XXI/2023), and severance follows Law 13/2003 Article 156 as amended by Law 6/2023 as a minimum.

What should workers do now?

There is nothing to register for or pay. Your rights today still follow the rules in force: fixed-term contracts and their compensation, overtime, THR, severance, BPJS and the ban on withholding diplomas. Keep your contract, payslips and work records. If anyone asks for money for registration, training or a 'programme' linked to the new law, treat it as a red flag. Official information will appear on peraturan.go.id and kemnaker.go.id.

When will this page be updated?

We check the law's status regularly and no later than 30 days after joint approval, the deadline in Constitution Article 20(5). When the law is numbered and its text is published, we will update this page and every workers' rights page with the law's number and date, the date it takes effect, the transitional rules, and the articles that change your rights, each with its source.

Which workers' rights pages are affected?

Every workers' rights page uses the rules in force today and will be updated when the new law takes effect: PKWT and PKWTT contracts, Overtime pay, THR, Severance pay and dismissal, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, Withheld diplomas, Hiring discrimination and Labour dispute mediation.

Not legal advice. For your own case, contact the official channels listed.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Labour Protection Law in force yet?

No. The DPR and the Government approved it on 6 October 2026, but as of 7 October 2026 it has no number, has not been promulgated, and its text is not public. Its effective date will be set by the closing and transitional articles of the official text.

Is it true the PKWT contract limit is getting shorter?

Not confirmed. Some media have reported a change to the fixed-term contract limit, but the Ministry of Manpower's official summary of 7 October 2026 gives no such figure and the text is not public. Until the new law takes effect, a PKWT may last at most 5 years including extensions.

Do I need to do anything now?

There is no registration or fee linked to this new law. Keep your contract, payslips and work records as usual, and rely on the rules in force today. Be wary of anyone asking for money for a 'new law programme'.

Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Sources

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

  1. DPR Sahkan UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan (emedia DPR RI, 7 Oktober 2026) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat RI (emedia) · accessed
  2. Menaker Ungkap Poin Penting UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan yang Wajib Diketahui Pekerja Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI · accessed
  3. RUU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan Perkuat Hak Pekerja dan Kepastian Dunia Usaha (DPR RI, 6 Oktober 2026) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat RI · accessed
  4. Menaker: RUU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan Hadirkan Era Baru Hukum Ketenagakerjaan Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI · accessed
  5. UU Ketenagakerjaan Sudah Disahkan, Kenapa Drafnya Belum Dipublikasikan? (Kompas, 7 Oktober 2026) Kompas.com · official statement via media · accessed
  6. UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan Resmi Disahkan, Kapan Efektif Berlaku? (CNBC Indonesia, 6 Oktober 2026) CNBC Indonesia · official statement via media · accessed
  7. Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945 (satu naskah), Pasal 20 JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id) · UUD 1945 Pasal 20 · accessed
  8. Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Nomor 168/PUU-XXI/2023 (pengujian UU 6/2023, klaster ketenagakerjaan) Mahkamah Konstitusi RI · accessed
  9. Undang-Undang Nomor 13 Tahun 2003 tentang Ketenagakerjaan JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id) · UU 13/2003 · accessed
  10. Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2023 tentang Penetapan Perppu Nomor 2 Tahun 2022 tentang Cipta Kerja menjadi Undang-Undang Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 6/2023 · accessed
  11. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 35 Tahun 2021 tentang Perjanjian Kerja Waktu Tertentu, Alih Daya, Waktu Kerja dan Waktu Istirahat, dan Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · PP 35/2021 · accessed
  12. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 36 Tahun 2021 tentang Pengupahan Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · PP 36/2021 · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Indonesia's new labour law 2026: is it in force yet, and what does it mean for workers?. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/workers-rights/new-labour-law/

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Change log
  • : This page now focuses on what the new law means for workers; the official status, content and start date are detailed on the regulation page.