JAKARTA - Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower imposed Rp2.17 billion in administrative fines on PT Borneo Alumindo Prima, alumina smelter in Western Kalimantan, following discovery of 164 foreign nationals working without approved Foreign Worker Utilisation Plans (RPTKA).

The violations were identified during inspections conducted between 27 October and 1 November 2025 at the Ketapang Industrial Estate in West Kalimantan, and the company paid the penalty into the state treasury on 26 January 2026.

Director General of Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety Ismail Pakaya stated enforcement addresses labour market fairness. “RPTKA compliance protects employment priorities for Indonesian workers,” he said, referencing Government Regulation No. 34 of 2021 mandating RPTKA approval before employing foreign workers.

The undocumented workers held positions ranging from one to five months. Following field findings, the ministry issued Inspection Note I as warning and correction order, then Decision Letter No. 5/6/AS.00.01/I/2026 dated 21 January 2026 imposing sanctions under the regulation's administrative penalty provisions.

PT Borneo Alumindo Prima operates an alumina refinery majority-linked to Chinese interests with an investment of about US$1.96 billion. Phase one has a capacity of around 1 million tonnes per year, with expansion plans toward about 6 million tonnes. The facility includes coal-to-gas units to supply processed energy.

There is no consolidated national headline figure for registered foreign workers in Indonesia for 2025. The Ministry of Manpower publishes rolling datasets on foreign workers and approved employment plans through its official data portal, which must be compiled to produce a full-year total. 

Provincial data show, for example, that Central Java recorded 22,338 registered foreign workers in 2025.

Director of Labour Standards Inspection Rinaldi Umar confirmed the ministry will continue enforcement operations throughout 2026 to ensure compliance with foreign worker regulations across Indonesian industrial estates.