JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Manpower has found multiple labour compliance violations at PT Wanxiang Nickel Indonesia (WNI) during a routine inspection earlier this month.

The inspection was conducted on 4 and 5 September by the ministry at the company’s facility in Bahomotefe, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, as reported by ANTARA News on 7 September.

The inspection revealed that 37 foreign workers were employed using only special stay permits, without approved foreign manpower utilisation plans (RPTKA).

Several employees were also assigned to job roles that did not match the positions listed in their approved RPTKA, while six workers were found to have expired visas, and one worker had no visa documentation.

According to the ministry, the company paid 65 foreign workers according to the local minimum wage of IDR 3.96 million per month, which is below the RPTKA-stated wage of USD 1,000.

Five foreign workers were not registered with the national social security and health insurance schemes, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and BPJS Kesehatan.

The company also failed to submit its annual report on the employment of foreign workers to the Ministry of Manpower and did not assign Indonesian mentors to support technology transfer, nor did it provide mandatory Indonesian language training.

As a result, the ministry ordered the dismissal of the 37 non-compliant foreign workers from the site.

Officials stated that administrative sanctions may follow, and coordination is ongoing with the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections.

In a statement on 7 September, the ministry’s Director of Labour Standards Inspection Rinaldi Umar said that companies employing foreign workers must demonstrate full compliance with Indonesian labour regulations.

He said that employers are required to provide social security coverage for migrant workers, while also ensuring that local employees receive proper knowledge and cultural transfer from their foreign counterparts.

He added that strong regulatory compliance is key to building a productive and positive working environment between companies, workers, communities, and the state.

PT Wanxiang Nickel Indonesia has not issued a public statement in response to the findings.