Two teachers fired without compensation after applying for government jobs, despite Supreme Court ruling.

The owners of Harapan Utama School (SHU) in Batam are refusing to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that mandates severance payments for two dismissed teachers. The teachers, identified as RS and S, were terminated without warning or compensation in May 2022 after applying for government teaching positions under the Pegawai Pemerintah dengan Perjanjian Kerja (P3K) program. Despite winning their case in the Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung, MA), the school’s management continues to deny payment, demanding a court execution order before taking action.

The dispute between the teachers and SHU began in 2022 when RS, a senior teacher with 17 years of service, and S, who taught for seven years, decided to apply for government positions under Batam’s P3K program. Shortly after submitting their applications, the school’s management abruptly fired them without providing any legal justification or financial compensation.

Since then, the teachers have fought for their rights through multiple legal avenues, including the Tripartit dispute resolution process, the Batam Department of Manpower, and the Industrial Relations Court (Pengadilan Hubungan Industrial, PHI). They won every stage of litigation, culminating in a Supreme Court ruling in October 2024 that ordered SHU to pay their severance. However, the school’s management has refused to comply.

School’s Management Ignores Legal Mandate

According to RS, the school’s owner, Hartono, has repeatedly ignored legal orders, showing no intention of honoring the Supreme Court decision. Attempts to communicate with school officials, including its HR representative Purwadi and principal Nurdiman, have gone unanswered. Both individuals have failed to respond to phone calls and written inquiries regarding the case.

Attorney Zaky, representing RS, confirmed that legal notices have been sent to SHU’s legal team, but the school remains defiant. “We have informed their lawyer about the Supreme Court decision, but they are demanding a court execution order before making payments,” Zaky stated.

SHU’s lawyer, Tantimin, echoed this stance, saying, “I have conveyed the ruling to Hartono, but he insists on waiting for a court execution order before complying.” However, this tactic is seen by legal experts as a deliberate delay strategy, given that Supreme Court rulings are final and binding.

Teachers Struggle Financially, Face Bureaucratic Barriers

The refusal to pay severance has left RS and S in financial distress. RS, who was paid just IDR 2 million (SGD 166) per month during his tenure at SHU, now faces the challenge of raising IDR 20 million (SGD 1,660) required for a court execution order.

In his frustration, RS stated, “I have followed every legal step available, from mediation to the highest court in the country. Yet, the school continues to mock the legal system. How can an educator afford a legal battle that costs more than a year’s salary?”

Batam Legislators Call for Compliance

Batam’s Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah (DPRD) has weighed in on the issue, with Commission 4 member Sony Cristianto calling for SHU’s management to respect the court’s ruling.

“The owners of Harapan Utama School must comply with the Supreme Court decision. The legal process has been followed, and now it is their obligation to pay,” said Cristianto, a member of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).

The case has sparked broader concerns over the treatment of teachers in private schools, with education advocates arguing that such incidents reflect a larger issue of labor rights violations in the education sector.

The ongoing dispute between Harapan Utama School and its former teachers highlights the persistent challenges of enforcing labor rights in Indonesia’s private education sector. Despite a definitive ruling from the Supreme Court, the school’s refusal to pay severance demonstrates the difficulties teachers face in securing justice.

The case has drawn attention to the legal loopholes that employers exploit to delay or deny rightful compensation. Without enforcement mechanisms to hold schools accountable, educators risk being subjected to arbitrary dismissals with little recourse.

As calls for intervention grow louder, the outcome of this case will serve as a critical test of Indonesia’s commitment to labor justice and the rule of law.

Sources: Telisik News (2025), Telisik News (2025), Wajah Batam on FB (2025)

Keywords: Batam Education Dispute, Harapan Utama School Case, Supreme Court Teacher Ruling, Teacher Severance Payment, Unfair Dismissal Indonesia