On 31 October 2025, the Indonesian Government published a new draft of the Law on Human Rights (“Draft Human Rights Law”), which contains several new clauses and/or amendments to previous stipulations on Manpower Rights, Unions, and Gender Workplace Discrimination.

With regards to Labour Unions, the Draft Human Rights Law has addressed several new rights that are associated with workers joining, forming, and exercising their rights with unions, as follows per Article 20:

  1. Every person has the right to assemble and associate peacefully.
  2. Every person has the right to associate with others, including the right to form and join trade unions to protect their interests.
  3. Every person has the right to form trade unions and join trade unions of their own choice, subject only to the rules of the respective organisation, for the improvement and protection of their economic and social interests.
  4. Every worker has the right to form national federations or confederations, and the right for these national confederations to form or join international trade union organisations and to function freely.
  5. The right to strike may be exercised.
  6. The exercise of the rights as regulated in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) above may be restricted only to the extent necessary in a democratic society for the purposes of:
    • national security;
    • public safety;
    • public order;
    • public health;
    • public morals; and/or
    • the protection of the rights and freedoms of others as prescribed by law.

These clauses greatly expand on the provisions concerning Labour Unions, where the preceding regulation only addressed the right for workers to establish Labour Unions and to not be prevented from joining one, greatly expanding on the rights for workers in exercising their ability to conduct strikes, assemble meetings, and form federations or confederations (respectively, organisations of Unions and organisations of federations).

With regard to worker’s rights, there has been a small amendment to the clause concerning human dignity, where Article 55 paragraph 4 now has a new insertion whereby workers are now entitled to “safe and healthy working conditions,” on top of the previously raised “fair wages” and “right to ensuring the well-being of their family.”

In addressing Gender Workplace Discrimination, the Draft Human Rights Law has raised new specific instances of Women’s Rights under Article 64 paragraph 2, which now include:

  1. to receive equal wages for work of equal value;
  2. to receive equal benefits and social security; and
  3. to receive security if they are unable to work due to health reasons, pregnancy, childbirth, or other conditions related to reproductive functions.

Key Takeaways

As a draft, this Law may still be subject to further changes. However, employers in Indonesia must take care to note that upon this new regulation coming into force, various Government bodies including the Ministry of Manpower may issue their respective sector-based regulations to implement these new considerations over the coming years. Anticipation and flexibility to adapt to these new changes will be key to ensure compliance with workers’ rights.

This article is featured in: L&E Global Employment Law Tracker