Indonesia: why confirm a former employee's job?
A written Indonesian employment agreement already states the position or kind of work and when the agreement starts and how long it runs (Manpower Act, Pasal 54). Confirming the same facts takes a minute and helps the person into their next job. certo asks on their behalf, with their explicit consent.
Law as of 26 October 2026 · Undang-Undang Nomor 27 Tahun 2022 tentang Pelindungan Data Pribadi and Undang-Undang Nomor 13 Tahun 2003 tentang Ketenagakerjaan as amended by Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2023, texts on JDIH BPK and the Constitutional Court's annotated edition (2025)
In short
- The facts are already in writing. A written employment agreement states at least the position or kind of work and when the agreement starts and how long it runs (Manpower Act, Pasal 54(1)). Those are the facts we ask about, so your records already hold them.
- It helps the person who worked for you. A record confirmed by a former employer is what the next employer trusts. Answering takes about a minute and needs no account.
- certo asks on their behalf, with their explicit consent. The Personal Data Protection Law (UU PDP) lists the data subject's valid, explicit consent as a basis for processing (Pasal 20), given in writing or recorded, electronically or not (Pasal 22). The person started this check themselves, for these facts and no others.
- You do not have to answer. No Indonesian law obliges an employer to answer certo. Declining is fine.
The Manpower Act
Undang-Undang Nomor 13 Tahun 2003 tentang Ketenagakerjaan, quoted from the text on JDIH BPK. The Job Creation Law (Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2023) amended many of its articles, but not the two quoted here.
Pasal 54(1): what the employment agreement states
Perjanjian kerja yang dibuat secara tertulis … c. jabatan atau jenis pekerjaan; … g. mulai dan jangka waktu berlakunya perjanjian kerja;
In English: a written employment agreement contains at least, among other things, the position or kind of work, and the start and term of the agreement. These are the facts we ask about, so your records already hold them.
Pasal 5: equal opportunity
Setiap tenaga kerja memiliki kesempatan yang sama tanpa diskriminasi untuk memperoleh pekerjaan.
In English: every worker has the same opportunity, without discrimination, to obtain work. certo asks for no opinion, performance, pay, reason for leaving, health, family, beliefs or criminal record.
We found no provision of the Manpower Act, as amended, that obliges an employer to issue a work certificate (surat keterangan kerja) or that limits what it may say about a former employee. The surat keterangan kerja is commonly traced to article 1602z of the Civil Code (KUHPerdata), the colonial Burgerlijk Wetboek; we do not quote it, because we found no official Indonesian text of it.
Personal data
The Personal Data Protection Law, Undang-Undang Nomor 27 Tahun 2022, applies to your HR records. It took effect on 17 October 2022, with two years for controllers to adjust (Pasal 74).
Pasal 20: a basis for processing, and consent
Pengendali Data Pribadi wajib memiliki dasar pemrosesan Data Pribadi.
Dasar pemrosesan Data Pribadi sebagaimana dimaksud pada ayat (1) meliputi: a. persetujuan yang sah secara eksplisit dari Subjek Data Pribadi untuk 1 (satu) atau beberapa tujuan tertentu yang telah disampaikan oleh Pengendali Data Pribadi kepada Subjek Data Pribadi;
In English: a personal data controller must have a basis for processing; the bases include the data subject's valid, explicit consent for one or more specific purposes made known to them. The person's request names your organisation, certo and each fact.
Pasal 22 and Pasal 24: form and proof of consent
Persetujuan pemrosesan Data Pribadi dilakukan melalui persetujuan tertulis atau terekam.
Dalam melakukan pemrosesan Data Pribadi, Pengendali Data Pribadi wajib menunjukkan bukti persetujuan yang telah diberikan oleh Subjek Data Pribadi.
In English: consent is given in writing or recorded (and may be given electronically, Pasal 22(2)); a controller processing personal data must be able to show the consent the data subject gave. The person gave it from their own signed-in certo account. certo records which account asked, when, and for which facts. Write to support@certo.bio and we send you the record for your request.
Pasal 16(2): limited, for its purpose
pemrosesan Data Pribadi dilakukan sesuai dengan tujuannya;
In English: personal data are processed in line with their purpose. You confirm or leave unticked only the facts listed. Add nothing else: anything beyond them is not covered by the person's consent. certo never asks for the specific personal data of Pasal 4(2), such as health, biometric or genetic data, criminal records or personal financial data.
What this means for your answer
- Tick only what your HR, payroll or personnel records show.
- Not sure it is the same person? Press "We can't find a matching record". Never confirm a record you are not sure is theirs.
- Your policy is not to answer? Press "We do not answer these requests". The record shows your organisation declined, and nobody else there is asked.
Sources
- Undang-Undang Nomor 27 Tahun 2022 tentang Pelindungan Data Pribadi (JDIH BPK, Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan)
- Undang-Undang Nomor 27 Tahun 2022, annotated edition 2025 (Mahkamah Konstitusi)
- Undang-Undang Nomor 13 Tahun 2003 tentang Ketenagakerjaan (JDIH BPK)
- Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2023 tentang Cipta Kerja (JDIH BPK)
This page is not legal advice. It reflects the law as it stood on 26 October 2026.