JURIDICAL ANALYSIS OF DIPLOMA RETENTION AGREEMENT AS A CONDITION OF WORKING IN THE COMPANY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53806/ijcss.v7i1.1290Keywords:
Degree, Employee, ResponsibilityAbstract
The practice of companies withholding diplomas as a condition of employment is an employment law issue that reflects the unequal position between employers and workers and the weak protection of workers' rights. Although this practice is not explicitly regulated in employment law, it has the potential to go against the principles of freedom of contract, fair employment relations, and human rights. This study aims to analyze the form of legal protection for workers, and the government's responsibility in preventing and combating this practice. Through normative legal research, it was concluded that the detention of diplomas could violate the constitutional rights of workers, potentially making the agreement invalid. Legal protection can be provided in a preventive and repressive manner, based on national law and international human rights instruments. The government's responsibility is strengthened through supervision, mediation, and the issuance of the Circular Letter of the Minister of Manpower No. M/5/HK.04.00/V/2025. Nevertheless, stronger laws and regulations are needed to ensure legal certainty and the effectiveness of legal protection for employees
References
[1] Muhaimin. 2020. Legal Research Methods. Mataram: Mataram University Press.
[2] Rahardjo, Satjipto. 2016. Legal Sciences. Bandung: PT. Image of Aditya Bakti.
[3] Sarosa, Samiaji. 2021. Qualitative Research Data Analysis. Depok: PT Kaniaius.
[4] By the way, Vicky Sry. 2024. Yogyakarta Legal Research Methods Textbook : Publika Global Media
[5] Adnyakausalya, Ni Made Angelina and Aditya Pramana Putra. "Detention of Diplomas by Companies: Perspectives on Legal Protection of Employees". Kertha Speech Journal. Vol 15. No.7. 2025.
[6] Azhar, Muhamad and Ery Agus Priyono. "Violation of Labor Rights through Detention of Diplomas as Security," Law, Development and Justice Review. Vol 2. No. 2. 2019.
[7] Fasha, Zulfikar and Yusuf Anggoro Council. "Legal Protection of Workers on Detention of Diplomas by Employers in Indonesia". Synergy: Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal. Vol 2. No. 1. 2026.
[8] Fuad and Ontran Sumantri Riyanto. "Human Rights Perspective on the Retention of Original Diplomas in Employment Agreements by Employers". Juris Humanity: Journal of Human Rights Law Research and Studies. Vol 2. No. 1. 2023.
[9] Hanum, C. "Juridical analysis of the position of circulars in the Indonesian legal system". Journal of Humanities: Law and Civil Society, Vol 10. No. 2. 2020.
[10] Kamila, Nadia Dwi Sekar Kamila et al. "Legal Aspects of Employee Diploma Detention by Companies in the City of Surakarta". Journal of Law and Citizenship. Vol 16. No. 3. 2026.
[11] Khandhi, Shinta Ventia Nila, Andrie Irawan and Yudhi Widyo Armono. "Juridical Implications of Diploma Withholding by Employers in Employment Relations Based on Employment Law in Indonesia". Indonesian Journal of Islamic Jurisprudence, Economic and Legal Theory. No. 2. 2025.
[12] Pohan, Masitah and Rahma Yanti. "Juridical Analysis of Employment Agreements in Plantation Companies". Journal of Cahaya Keadilan. Vol 8. No. 1. 2021.
[13] Pratama, Dicky Satria Pratama et al., "Legal Analysis Regarding the Detention of Employee Diplomas by Companies". Indonesian Journal of Law and Justice. Vol 1. No. 4. 2024.
[14] Simorangkir, Julius Caesar Transon Simorangkir and Akbar Sayudi. "The Legal Strength of the Circular Letter of the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Number M/5/HK.04.00/V/2025 on the Detention of Workers' Diplomas by Companies". Al-Zayn: Journal of Social and Legal Sciences. Vol 3. No. 4. 2025.
[15] Utomo. "The Position of the Circular Letter of the Minister of Manpower on the Prohibition of Diploma Detention in Indonesian Positive Law". The Supremacy Journal. Vol 15, No. 2. 2025.
[16] Wibowo, Benedictus Satryo, Achmad Busro, & Anggita Doramia Lumbanraja. "Legitimacy of Retention of Workers' Diplomas in Fixed-Time Work Agreements (PKWT)". Notaries, Vol 14. No. 2. 2021
[17] Laws of the Republic of Indonesia. Number 13 of 2003 concerning Manpower.
[18] Circular Letter of the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Number M/5/HK.04.00/V/2025
[19] Indonesian Central Statistics Agency. (2025). "Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) of 4.76 percent. The average wage of workers is 3.09 million rupiah." https://www.bps.go.id/id/pressrelease/2025/05/05/2432/tingkat-pengangguran-terbuka--tpt--sebesar-4-76-persen--rata-rata-upah-buruh-sebesar-3-09-juta-rupiah-.html Retrieved September 24, 2025, at 22:34.
[20] Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia. (2025). "Diploma Detention in the Perspective of Law and Public Service", https://ombudsman.go.id/artikel/r/pwkinternal--penahanan-ijazah-dalam-legal-perspective-and-public-service Accessed on Thursday, October 2, 2025. at 10:16 a.m.
[21] Surabaya City Government. (2025). "Surabaya City Government Completes Dozens of Iajzah Cases Detained Without Noise," https://surabaya.go.id/id/berita/23672/pemkot-surabaya-rampungkan-belasan-kasus-ijazah-ditahan-tanpa-gaduh Accessed on Thursday, October 2, 2025. at 10:42 a.m
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sulistiani, Mirsa Astuti, Masitah Pohan

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.




