Navigating Indonesian Termination Law

A New Era in Employment Law

This tool provides an interactive guide to Indonesia's employment termination framework under the Job Creation Law (UU Cipta Kerja) and its key regulation, PP 35/2021. The law has shifted from rigid protectionism to a more pragmatic, formula-driven system. This application helps employers and employees understand their rights and obligations by calculating potential severance packages and explaining the specific rules for various termination scenarios.

Interactive Severance Calculator

Your Estimated Entitlements

Severance Pay (UP)

IDR 0

Long Service Pay (UPMK)

IDR 0

Compensation for Rights (UPH)

Unused Leave + Costs

Separation Pay (Uang Pisah)

As per Agreement


TOTAL ESTIMATED PAYOUT

IDR 0

Termination Scenarios Explorer

Mergers, Acquisitions & Separations

The law provides specific compensation rules for corporate restructuring. In a merger, consolidation, or separation, if either the employer or employee is unwilling to continue the relationship, it is treated as a standard business termination, entitling the employee to a full 1x Severance Pay (UP) package.

Acquisitions have two distinct scenarios. A standard termination due to the acquisition (e.g., redundancy) grants a 1x UP package. However, if the acquisition leads to a change in employment terms and the employee refuses to continue under the new terms, the compensation is significantly reduced to 0.5x UP. This distinction is a critical strategic point for both employers and employees during a takeover.

Efficiency, Closure, and Financial Distress

The law differentiates between terminations due to proactive efficiency measures versus reactive measures due to financial loss. Terminating for efficiency to prevent future losses entitles the employee to a full 1x UP package. However, if the termination is for efficiency because the company is already experiencing losses, or if the company closes due to sustained losses or bankruptcy, the entitlement is reduced to 0.5x UP. This provides financial relief to distressed companies.

The highest entitlements are reserved for social protection cases. Termination due to retirement grants a 1.75x UP package, while termination due to an employee's death or prolonged disability from a work accident provides a 2x UP package.

Resignation & Violations

When an employment relationship ends due to the employee's own actions, the compensation is minimal. For voluntary resignation, termination due to an urgent violation, or unexcused absence for 5 or more days, the employee is not entitled to Severance Pay (UP) or Long Service Pay (UPMK).

In these cases, the employee is only entitled to Compensation for Rights (UPH) and a "Separation Pay" (*Uang Pisah*). The amount of Separation Pay is not defined by law and must be stipulated in the employment agreement, company regulations, or collective labor agreement. Its value can therefore vary significantly from one company to another.

Understanding the Law: Key Concepts

Termination compensation generally consists of three parts: 1. Severance Pay (Uang Pesangon - UP): Based on length of service. 2. Long Service Award Pay (Uang Penghargaan Masa Kerja - UPMK): An additional award for employees with over 3 years of service. 3. Compensation for Rights (Uang Penggantian Hak - UPH): Covers unused annual leave and repatriation costs. The new law removed the previous 15% housing and medical allowance from UPH.

The core of the new law is a multiplier system that adjusts the amount of Severance Pay (UP) based on the specific, legally defined reason for termination. This creates a tiered system of liability, with multipliers ranging from 0x (for employee fault) to 0.5x (for business distress), 1x (for standard business reasons), and up to 2x (for social protection cases like death). The legal "battleground" has shifted from contesting the termination itself to contesting the *reason* for it, as this directly determines the payout.

A Mutual Termination Agreement (PB) is a contract to end employment amicably. However, it is subject to labor law's protective principles. A PB that provides compensation *below* the mandatory statutory minimum is legally precarious and likely void by operation of law, as severance entitlements are considered a matter of public order. To be legally binding and enforceable like a court judgment, a PB must be registered with the Industrial Relations Court. The true value of a PB for an employer is not to reduce costs, but to achieve legal finality and avoid future litigation.

Strategic Recommendations

  • Emphasize Proactive Documentation: Employers must meticulously document the business rationale and evidence supporting their chosen grounds for termination. A robust evidentiary file is the best defense against a legal challenge.
  • Utilize Mutual Agreements for Certainty, Not Circumvention: Use Mutual Termination Agreements (PB) to achieve legal finality, not to unlawfully reduce statutory severance. The best practice is to offer a fully compliant package in exchange for a final settlement.
  • Navigate Corporate Restructuring with Precision: In M&A contexts, be acutely aware of the different scenarios and their impact on severance calculations, especially when planning to change employment terms post-acquisition.

This application is an interactive interpretation of legal analysis based on Indonesian Law No. 6/2023 and PP 35/2021. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult with a legal professional for specific situations.

Source analysis inspired by content from Hukumonline.