The Ministry of Manpower issued the Regulation of the Minister of Manpower (Permenaker) No. 1/2017 on the structure and scale of wages as per the mandate of Government Regulation (PP) No. 78/2015 on Wage System. Some workers organizations quickly voiced their dissatisfaction upon learning the new regulation. They believe that the structure prescribed do not meet the needs of workers.

On March 22, 2017 the Palangka Raya District Court in Central Kalimantan partially granted the citizen lawsuit filed by the Anti Haze Movement (GAAs) and WALHI against the President of Indonesia and 6 other co-defendants. The lawsuit was filed in response to the 2015 forest fires. The demand is for the Government of Indonesia to conduct measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Panel of Judges agreed with the plaintiffs that the Government had ignored the safety of the people.

The Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court have concluded the trials of the two officials of PT Brantas Abipraya (Persero), who’re accused of attempting to bribe officials of the Jakarta High Prosecutors office. The defendants were found guilty, even though the targeted recipients of the bribe were never brought to justice.

On March 23, 2017, the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court resumed the trial of the two defendants in the electronic identity card (E-KTP) graft case. The trial session took a surprise turn when one of the witnesses summoned by the prosecutors asked the Panel of Judges to withdraw her Investigation Report (BAP). The witness claimed that she was forced to admit her involvement and that the investigation was conducted under threat.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) finally named Andi Agustinus a.k.a Andi Narogong a new suspect in the electronic identity cards (E-KTP) procurement graft case. Andi, whose name dominates the indictment prepared for the first two suspects, was detained yesterday afternoon. The KPK has 24 hours to keep Andi in detention before they have to decide to release him or to keep him in custody. The interesting thing is that, despite the massive role he supposedly play in the scheme, nobody seems to really know who Andi Narogong is.

In the first week of February 2017, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named the Head of Papua’s Department of Public Works Mikael Kambuaya as a suspect of corruption in the construction of Kemiri-Depapre road project. On March 22, 2017, the KPK named a new suspect in the case.

On March 22, 2017, the public prosecutors of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) read their demands for Amran HI Mustary, the former Head of the IX National Roads Implementing Board (BPJN IX), who is now a defendant in the Trans-Seram graft case. The case has so far had brought down 10 people, including the former member of the House Commission V of the House of Representatives Damayanti Wisnu Putranti (PDI-P) and the President Director of PT Windhu Tunggal Utama Abdul Khoir, but investigation continues.

In July 2015, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) won the battle of Reconsideration (PK) against Yayasan Supersemar; a foundation belonging to the family of former President Soeharto. Yayasan Supersemar was found guilty of diverting State funds from the 1970s to the 1990s. The foundation was thus ordered to return Rp4.4 trillion to the State, but to this day the execution of the verdict has not been carried out. The responsible parties are now casting blame on each other.

The trial of the President Director of PT Meriel Esa Indonesia Fahmi Darmawansyah, who is allegedly involved in bribing the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), continues. In the hearing held on March 20, 2017, the Court summoned the other suspect in the case Eko Susilo Hadi as a witness. Eko confirmed the content of the indictment read.

The amendment of the Law (UU) No. 18/1999 on Construction Service was promulgated this month under UU No. 2/2017. The long-overdue amendment was initiated by the House of Representatives with the backing of the Government, with the Ministry of Public Works and People’s Housing. Some urge the Government to quickly implement the law, but others have voiced their objection.