Employee Certificate Detained, Edberd Sutanto Boss From PT Dwitunggal Pegadai Closes Mouth

TANGERANG - Detention of diplomas by companies is prohibited and can be subject to criminal sanctions because diplomas are personal data, not work guarantees. Detention of diplomas can be punishable by embezzlement or extortion, especially if accompanied by a ransom request.

PT Dwi Tunggal Putra Pegadai (DPP) located in Neglasari District was reported to the Tangerang City Manpower Office. This is because the company has detained the diploma and personal documents belonging to six of its employees. The attorney for workers, Hari, stated that the mediation did not meet a meeting point. According to him, the company has not provided certainty regarding the return of diplomas or wage payments which are deemed inconsistent with the provisions.

"Our client only asks for normative rights to be carried out. First, about wages. According to the Decree of the Governor of Banten, this year's wages are around Rp. 4.9 million. However, workers only receive Rp. 2.5 million plus Rp. 1 million for food. There is a clear difference, and it must be paid, "said Hari.

"There were six of our clients whose diplomas and BPKB were detained. They had been laid off three months ago, but until now the documents have not been returned," he said in a written message received, Friday, August 22.

One of the affected employees (NM) explained that the detention of the diploma had been asked by the company for reasons of guarantee. This has not been added by the late payment of salaries which is the right of employees and has not been paid by the company for 2-3 months. NM added that because his diploma was withheld by the company, it was difficult for him to find a new job.

"Besides the THR salary, it didn't go down either. But the hardest thing was that my diploma was detained. I haven't been able to take it for almost six months," he told reporters.

The head of the Tangerang City Manpower Office, Ujang Hendra, emphasized that the detention of diplomas by companies, in any form, was not allowed. He referred to the Circular Letter of the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Number M / 5 / HK.04.00 / V / 2025 which explicitly prohibits this practice.

In principle, no company is justified in holding a diploma. Whatever the company is, holding the worker's personal documents is a violation.

According to Ujang, the Manpower Office will continue to oversee every complaint related to industrial relations ranging from wage issues, overtime, work agreements, to document detention practices. He added that only yesterday he had sought mediation with a tripartite pattern of mediators, workers, and companies. However, there is no common ground yet.

"If there is no agreement, then the recommendation issued by the Manpower Office will clearly state that the detention of the diploma is not justified. If consensus is still not reached, this case can proceed to the Industrial Relations Court (PHI)," he said.

After being visited by the Tangerang City Manpower Office, the management acted quickly by making a circular in the office environment. The circular explained that all employees at the DPP could ask for their diplomas that had been withheld by the company

Another PT DPP employee, S said, emphasized that PT DPP had withheld the diplomas of employees who wanted to work from the start. He also added that high-ranking officials at the company were said to have held their second meeting with the Manpower Office to discuss the results of mediation in the first meeting.

"The latest information is that the company, represented by the bosses, has held a meeting with the Manpower Office in Tangerang City, so it's no longer a problem," he said.

Based on AHU.go.id's search, the business address of PT Dwitunggal Putra Pegadai is located at Ruko Alicante Block A number 2, Tangerang Regency, Banten. According to a reliable source, after the arrival and mediation process occurred on Wednesday, (20/8/2025) the management only issued a certificate return letter for all employees.

"The Minister of Manpower Circular has been in effect since May 2025. But this is a pawnshop company Dwitunggal Putra Pegadai that just took effect Thursday, August 21. Maybe because the owner is of Chinese descent, he feels above the law. Maybe the company's source of money is from online gambling," said the source.

Edbert Sutanto when contacted via WhatsApp had the opportunity to raise and communicate. However, when asked about the issue of the detention of employee diplomas by the company, he immediately closed communication and found it difficult to answer.

"Yes, it's true I'm Ebed Susanto, what's wrong?" said Edberd Sutanto.