Indonesia & Corruption: a few articles in the past few weeks

[jstar]

After the Bandung Zoo corruption case last year which involved two key administrators -sentenced to seven years in prison in October 2025 for causing IDR 25 billion in state losses- there is a new case but now with the zoo of Surabaya.

Former Surabaya Zoo president director Choirul Anwar was arrested and detained by the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office for an IDR 10.2 billion corruption scheme. He allegedly embezzled animal feed and operational funds for personal use between 2016 and 2024, severely harming animal welfare.

He created fictitious financial reports, cut daily animal food budgets and created fake expense records. The result was neglected, weak and starving animals and poorly maintained facilities.

 

[harryopal1]

Today watched a German documentary about food courier services through much of Europe. The pattern is for the big companies to sub contract to a range of smaller companies which underpay, employees and misuse them in a variety of ways. Many of the underpaid are Indian students, legitimately in various countries and trying to help cover living costs by working as couriers. Where odd strikes have taken place there have been Mafia like tactics used including bashing of protesters. As a German Minister for Labour said, some of these big companies are making big profits but governments have not regulated against sub contractors. There continue to be spectacular cases of corruption in Indonesia but corruption is certainly not unique to this archipelago.

 

[pantaiema]

Today watched a German documentary about food courier services through much of Europe. The pattern is for the big companies to sub contract to a range of smaller companies which underpay, employees and misuse them in a variety of ways. Many of the underpaid are Indian students, legitimately in various countries and trying to help cover living costs by working as couriers. Where odd strikes have taken place there have been Mafia like tactics used including bashing of protesters. As a German Minister for Labour said, some of these big companies are making big profits but governments have not regulated against sub contractors. There continue to be spectacular cases of corruption in Indonesia but corruption is certainly not unique to this archipelago.

Germany's national minimum wage is €12.82 per hour, and it is illegal for employers to pay workers less than this amount. Labour rights are also strongly protected in Germany.

I haven't watched the documentary, but situations like this typically occur when people enter the country illegally and work in the underground economy, or when international students work more hours than their visa permits.

If a company is caught employing someone who is not legally authorised to work, it can face substantial fines and other penalties. In some cases, unscrupulous employers might want to hire illegal immigrants and attempt to offset the risks of being caught by paying them less than they are legally entitled to. It is also worth noting that people working illegally often do not pay income tax, and employers may also evade paying the required social security contributions.

 

[harryopal1]

Germany's national minimum wage is €12.82 per hour, and it is illegal for employers to pay workers less than this amount. Labour rights are also strongly protected in Germany.

I haven't watched the documentary, but situations like this typically occur when people enter the country illegally and work in the underground economy, or when international students work more hours than their visa permits.

If a company is caught employing someone who is not legally authorised to work, it can face substantial fines and other penalties. In some cases, unscrupulous employers might want to hire illegal immigrants and attempt to offset the risks of being caught by paying them less than they are legally entitled to. It is also worth noting that people working illegally often do not pay income tax, and employers may also evade paying the required social security contributions.

Yes, all of that is true but the focus in this documentary was that students were not working illegally but that both students and others were not being paid properly and with consequences for those who did try and stand up for their rights.