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Resigning from a job in Indonesia: notice period, final pay, the paklaring letter and JHT

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

Workers who resign in Indonesia get no severance but keep compensation for rights and separation pay. Notice rules, the paklaring letter and JHT.

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

  • A worker who resigns and meets the conditions is entitled to compensation for rights and separation pay, not severance (Government Regulation 35/2021, Article 50).
  • The legal conditions: a written request at least 30 days before the leaving date, no service bond, and working until that date (Government Regulation 35/2021, Article 36(i)).
  • A fixed-term (PKWT) worker who leaves before the contract ends still gets PKWT compensation for the period worked (Government Regulation 35/2021, Article 17).
  • JHT old-age savings can be withdrawn in full after a one-month waiting period from the date of the resignation letter (Manpower Regulation 4/2022, Article 8).
  • Workers who resign are not eligible for the job loss benefit (JKP) (Government Regulation 6/2025, Article 20).
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On this page
  1. What am I entitled to when I resign in Indonesia?
  2. Is a one-month notice period required in Indonesia?
  3. Does a fixed-term worker who resigns get compensation or have to pay damages?
  4. Must my employer give me a paklaring or work reference letter?
  5. When can I withdraw my JHT after resigning?
  6. Can my employer withhold my last salary when I resign?
  7. What should a resignation letter in Indonesia include?
  8. How is compensation for rights calculated when I resign?
  9. How is resigning different from a dismissal?

What am I entitled to when I resign in Indonesia?

A worker who resigns of their own will and meets the resignation conditions is entitled to compensation for rights (uang penggantian hak) and separation pay (uang pisah) (Government Regulation 35/2021, Article 50). Compensation for rights covers annual leave not yet taken and not yet lapsed, travel home for you and your family to the place where you were hired, and other items in the employment contract, company regulation or collective agreement (Article 40(4)). The amount of separation pay is set in the same documents. Severance pay and long-service pay are not part of a resigning worker's entitlements.

Is a one-month notice period required in Indonesia?

Contracts often say one month's notice. The law itself says 30 days: the resignation request must be made in writing at the latest 30 days before the leaving date (Law 13/2003, Article 154A(1)(i), as amended by Law 6/2023, and Government Regulation 35/2021, Article 36(i)). The other conditions are that you are not bound by a service bond (ikatan dinas) and that you keep working until that date. A contract may set a longer period, so read it before you sign.

Does a fixed-term worker who resigns get compensation or have to pay damages?

Both can happen. If either party ends a fixed-term contract (PKWT) before its term, the employer must pay PKWT compensation for the period already worked (Government Regulation 35/2021, Article 17). At the same time, Article 62 of Law 13/2003, which Law 6/2023 did not amend, requires the party that ends a PKWT early to pay the other party damages equal to the wages until the end of the contract. So a fixed-term worker who resigns early can receive compensation and be asked for damages. Negotiate the leaving date so both sides agree.

Must my employer give me a paklaring or work reference letter?

A paklaring is a work reference letter from the company stating how long and in which position you worked. KarirAman has not found a duty to issue one in Law 13/2003, Law 6/2023 or Government Regulation 35/2021, and a search for 'paklaring' in the Ministry of Manpower's legal database on 8 October 2026 found no regulation. Some legal commentary points to an old article of the Civil Code, but we have not checked the official text. Ask for the letter in writing when you resign; if it is refused without reason, raise it in a bipartite negotiation.

When can I withdraw my JHT after resigning?

The Jaminan Hari Tua (JHT) old-age savings with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan can be withdrawn in cash and in full after a one-month waiting period from the date of the resignation statement (Manpower Regulation 4/2022, Articles 5 and 8). Attach your membership card, ID card and the employer's resignation statement (Article 9). Once the documents are complete and correct, JHT is paid within 5 working days (Article 18(4)). If contributions are in arrears, JHT is paid on the contributions actually paid, and the arrears are claimed from the employer (Article 20).

Can my employer withhold my last salary when I resign?

Government Regulation 36/2021 gives no ground for withholding wages because a worker resigns. The right to wages ends when the employment ends, so pay up to your last working day must still be paid (Law 13/2003, Article 88A(1), as amended by Law 6/2023, and Government Regulation 36/2021, Article 54(2)). Deductions are allowed only for the items in Article 63, such as your debt to the company under a written agreement. If your final salary is not paid, follow the steps on the unpaid wages page.

What should a resignation letter in Indonesia include?

A resignation letter should give the date of the letter, your last working day at least 30 days later, a statement that you resign of your own will, and a request for compensation for rights, separation pay, a resignation statement for your JHT claim and a paklaring. Send it through the company's official channel, such as the HR e-mail address or a letter with a receipt, and keep a copy. Proof of the sending date matters for the 30-day condition.

How is compensation for rights calculated when I resign?

Compensation for rights on resignation has no table like severance pay; it is built from the items in Article 40(4) of Government Regulation 35/2021:

  • Annual leave not yet taken and not yet lapsed, valued at your wage. The leave rules are in annual, maternity and paternity leave.
  • Travel home for you and your family to the place where you were hired, if you were recruited from another city.
  • Other items set in the employment contract, company regulation or collective agreement.

Separation pay has no figure in the regulation; the amount is in the company regulation or collective agreement. Ask HR for a copy before you resign. If the company refuses to pay, this rights dispute can go to a bipartite negotiation and then mediation at Disnaker (Law 2/2004, Articles 3 and 4). The severance table for dismissals, which differs from resignation, is in severance pay and dismissal.

How is resigning different from a dismissal?

Resigning ends the employment at your own request, while a termination for another reason brings different rights. For example, if wages were not paid on time for 3 months in a row and you apply for termination because of that conduct, Article 48 of Government Regulation 35/2021 gives severance pay, long-service pay and compensation for rights. So do not write an ordinary resignation letter if you are leaving because the company broke the rules; first read unpaid or late wages and ask a legal aid service or union for advice.

Panduan Warga explains how to check and withdraw your JHT balance: Panduan Warga JHT balance and claims guide.

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

Frequently asked questions

Do I get severance pay if I resign in Indonesia?

No, under Government Regulation 35/2021. A worker who resigns of their own will and meets the conditions is entitled to compensation for rights and separation pay (Article 50). The article does not mention severance pay or long-service pay. An employment contract, company regulation or collective agreement may give more.

Can I claim the job loss benefit (JKP) after resigning?

No. Article 20 of Government Regulation 6/2025 excludes workers who resign from the Jaminan Kehilangan Pekerjaan (JKP) job loss benefit. JKP goes to workers whose employment is terminated and who meet the contribution period. For fixed-term workers, JKP applies only if they are dismissed before the contract ends.

Can my employer keep my diploma after I resign?

Circular SE Menaker M/5/HK.04.00/V/2025 bars employers from requiring or holding original diplomas and personal documents as a guarantee for work. The only exception is a diploma or certificate from training the employer paid for under a written employment contract. A circular is guidance to governors, not a statute, so if the diploma is still held, negotiate and then use mediation at Disnaker.

Can I leave immediately without waiting 30 days?

You can still leave, but you no longer meet the resignation conditions in Article 36(i) of Government Regulation 35/2021. Your claim to separation pay can then be disputed, and a fixed-term worker who leaves before the contract ends must pay compensation equal to the wages until the contract end (Law 13/2003, Article 62). Agree a leaving date with your employer and keep the agreement in writing.

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. 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. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 35 Tahun 2021 (Pasal 17, 36 huruf g dan i, 40 ayat (4), 48 dan 50) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · PP 35/2021 · accessed
  4. Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2023 (Pasal 81: perubahan UU 13/2003 tentang cuti, upah, PHK dan pidana) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 6/2023 · accessed
  5. Undang-Undang Nomor 13 Tahun 2003 tentang Ketenagakerjaan (Pasal 1 angka 26, 62, 68, 69, 81 sampai 84 dan 93) JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id) · UU 13/2003 · accessed
  6. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 36 Tahun 2021 tentang Pengupahan (Pasal 40, 52 sampai 65, 79, 80 dan 85) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · PP 36/2021 · accessed
  7. Peraturan Menteri Ketenagakerjaan Nomor 4 Tahun 2022 tentang Tata Cara dan Persyaratan Pembayaran Manfaat Jaminan Hari Tua JDIH BPK RI · Permenaker 4/2022 · accessed
  8. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 6 Tahun 2025 tentang Perubahan atas PP Nomor 37 Tahun 2021 tentang Penyelenggaraan Program Jaminan Kehilangan Pekerjaan JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id) · PP 6/2025 · accessed
  9. JDIH Kemnaker: pencarian peraturan dengan kata kunci "paklaring" dan "surat keterangan kerja" JDIH Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI (jdih.kemnaker.go.id) · accessed
  10. Dasar Hukum Paklaring (Hukumonline, 29 Mei 2026) Hukumonline · third party · accessed
  11. Surat Edaran Menteri Ketenagakerjaan Nomor M/5/HK.04.00/V/2025 tentang Larangan Penahanan Ijazah dan/atau Dokumen Pribadi Milik Pekerja/Buruh oleh Pemberi Kerja (salinan dari Disnaker Kota Batam) Dinas Tenaga Kerja Kota Batam (meneruskan SE Menteri Ketenagakerjaan RI) · SE Menaker M/5/HK.04.00/V/2025 · accessed
  12. Undang-Undang Nomor 2 Tahun 2004 tentang Penyelesaian Perselisihan Hubungan Industrial Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 2/2004 · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Resigning from a job in Indonesia: notice period, final pay, the paklaring letter and JHT. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/workers-rights/resignation/

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