Legal Uncertainty in the Protection of Workers’ Rights at Retirement Age: A Normative–Empirical Study Within Indonesia’s Pancasila Welfare State Framework

David Torang Maruli Manalu; Cita  Citrawinda; Parbuntian  Sinaga; Hartanto Hartanto; Anwar  Budiman

doi:10.46799/ijssr.v6i2.1366

Authors

David Torang Maruli Manalu Universitas Krisnadwipayana
Cita Citrawinda Universitas Krisnadwipayana
Parbuntian Sinaga Universitas Krisnadwipayana
Hartanto Hartanto Universitas Krisnadwipayana
Anwar Budiman Universitas Krisnadwipayana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46799/ijssr.v6i2.1366

Keywords:

Restitution, Criminal subtitute restitution, Kejaksaan

Abstract

This study examines legal uncertainty concerning the protection of workers’ rights upon reaching retirement age within Indonesia’s labor law regime. The research is motivated by inconsistencies in regulatory norms, ambiguities in legal provisions, and disparities in judicial interpretations regarding retirement entitlements. Employing a normative–empirical methodology, the study analyzes statutory regulations, court decisions, and empirical data obtained from interviews with stakeholders, including labor authorities, employers, and workers. The findings reveal that legal uncertainty primarily stems from incomplete regulatory formulations in Government Regulation No. 35 of 2021, particularly regarding procedures for retirement-related termination, calculation mechanisms for retirement benefits, and the legal status of pension fund contributions. Moreover, the regulation disproportionately positions employers as the dominant party in retirement decisions, thereby generating procedural injustice and weakening workers’ bargaining power. Judicial practices further demonstrate interpretative variations that contribute to inconsistent legal outcomes. The study argues that legal reconstruction is necessary to ensure certainty, fairness, and balance in retirement-related employment termination. It proposes strengthening normative clarity, recognizing workers’ rights to initiate retirement, and enhancing tripartite synergy among government, employers, and labor unions. The research contributes to the discourse on labor protection by advancing a justice-oriented framework aligned with the principles of the Pancasila Welfare State.

References

Andrias, K. (2023). Constitutional clash: Labor, capital, and democracy. Nw. UL Rev., 118, 985.

Aristotle, A. (1998). Politics. Hackett Publishing Company.

Asshiddiqie, J. (2010). Konstitusi dan Konstitusionalisme Indonesia. Sinar Grafika.

BPHN. (2020). Naskah Akademik Rancangan Undang-Undang Tentang Cipta Kerja. Kementerian Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia.

Budiman, A. (2018). Penerapan Asas Keseimbangan Dalam Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Pelaksanaan Perjanjian Kerja: Mekanisme Perjanjian Kerja Pada Perusahaan Sektor Otomotif di Indonesia [Dissertations]. Universitas Krisnadwipayana.

Colquitt, J. A. (2001). On the Dimensionality of Organizational Justice: A Construct Validation of a Measure. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(3), 386–400. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.386

Cropanzano, R. (2007). "The Management of Organizational Justice”, Academy of Management Perspectives.

Djumala, D., & Rurit, B. (2024). Pancasila dari Indonesia Untuk Dunia. BPIP.

Engelmann, A. G. (2023). Algorithmic transparency as a fundamental right in the democratic rule of law: A comparative approach to regulation in European, North American, and Brazilian contexts. Brazilian Journal of Law, Technology and Innovation, 1(2), 169–188.

Folger, R., & Cropanzano, R. (1998). Organizational Justice and Human Resource Management. SAGE Publications, Inc.

Friedman, L. M. (1975). The Legal System: A Social Science Perspective. Russel Sage Foundation.

GoodNews. (2025). Kabupaten Bekasi, Kawasan Industri Terbesar di Asia Tenggara. www.goodnewsfromindonesia.id

Government Regulation Number 35 of 2021 Concerning Fixed-Term Employment Agreements, Outsourcing, Working Hours and Rest Periods, and Termination of Employment (2021).

Hadi, N. (2020). Rekonstruksi Politik Hukum Perlindungan Buruh Dalam Sengketa Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja yang Berbasis Nilai Keadilan [Dissertations]. Universitas Islam Sultan Agung.

Hadjon, P. M., Martosoewignjo, R. S. S., Basah, S., Manan, B., Marzuki, L., Berge, ten, Buuren, van, & Stroink, S. (2001). Pengantar Hukum Administrasi Indonesia. Gadjah Mada University Press.

Kaelan, K. (2016). Pendidikan Pancasila. Paradigma.

Khakim, A. (2014). Dasar-Dasar Hukum Ketenagakerjaan Indonesia. Citra Aditya Bakti.

KNIC. (2025). Kota Industri Karawang Merupakan yang Terbesar di Indonesia. www.knic.co.id

Kranenburg, R. (1989). Ilmu Negara Umum. Pradnya Paramita.

Law Number 13 of 2003 Concerning Labor.

Law Number 24 of 2011 Concerning the Social Security Administration Agency.

Madjid, N. V. (2019). Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Pekerja Dalam Perselisihan Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja di Indonesia [Dissertations]. Universitas Andalas.

Mahmutovic, A. (2024). How the Rule of Law Can Promote Sustainable Development across Three Core Pillars. Studia Iuridica Cassoviensia, 12, 132.

Pound, R. (1940). Contemporary Juristic Theory. Pamona College.

Rawls, J. (2001). Justice as Fairness a Restatement. Harvard University Press.

Sitohang, M. (2024). Menguji Keadilan Dalam penerapan Hak Pensiun Menurut UU Ketenagakerjaan. Honeste Vivere, 34(1), 52–62. https://doi.org/10.55809/hv.v34i1.297

Soepomo, I. (1975). Hukum Perburuhan Bidang Hubungan Kerja. Djambatan.

Soleh, A. (2018). Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Hak-hak Pekerja/Buruh Usia Pensiun Atas Pesangon, Penghargaan Masa Kerja, dan Penggantian Hak di Jawa Timur. Legal Spirit, 2(2).

Tanera, L. (2003). Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Hak Pekerja Terkait Pensiun dan Jaminan Hari Tua. Jurnal Pendidikan Sejarah Dan Riset Sosial Humaniora, 3(3).

Wibowo, H. I. (2020). Tindakan Pengusaha yang Tidak Mempensiunkan Pekerja Setelah Melewati Usia Pensiun. Jurist-Diction, 3(3), 1015. https://doi.org/10.20473/jd.v3i3.18635

Wijaya, A. (2017). Hukum Jaminan Sosial Indonesia. Sinar Grafika.

Wijayanti, A. (2009). Hukum Ketenagakerjaan Pasca Reformasi. Sinar Grafika.