Indonesia Probes Hillcon Over Unpaid Wages and Holiday Bonuses

The Ministry of Manpower is taking a firm stance on PT Hillcon Jaya Shakti's alleged failure to disburse wages and holiday bonuses to its workers in Morowali. Deputy Minister Afriansyah Noor has confirmed the investigation's progress and is pushing for the company's management to fulfill its obligations to former employees.

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The Ministry of Manpower has investigated the issue of unpaid wages and holiday bonuses for Hillcon workers.

The situation at Hillcon has been dire since operations halted in late 2025. Workers were sent home in early 2026 without their due pay, and even basic services like the company canteen were suspended due to unpaid bills. This has left many workers in a precarious financial state, struggling to make ends meet without their salaries and facing uncertainty regarding severance packages and social security contributions.

Hengki Arabiya, a representative of the affected workers, has voiced their frustration over the lack of progress in resolving the issue. Despite attempts at bipartite and tripartite negotiations, and even hearings with the local legislative council, concrete solutions remain elusive. The workers are appealing for direct government intervention to ensure their rights are upheld and payments are made promptly.

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The company has not yet realized the payment of wages and holiday bonuses according to the previous agreement.

This case highlights a recurring problem in Indonesia's labor sector, where worker welfare can be jeopardized by corporate financial mismanagement. The government's active involvement is crucial to ensure justice and prevent such incidents from recurring, reinforcing the importance of timely wage and bonus payments, especially around major holidays like Eid al-Fitr.

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We hope the government can directly intervene in the field to investigate this case and ensure that workers' rights are fulfilled.