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Three Eid al-Fitr celebrations have passed, yet the fate of a multi-billion rupiah invoice belonging to a local company remains uncertain. PT Rodeki Dinamika claims it has not received payment for a completed work contract from the pulp and paper industry giant, PT Indo Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk.
Ironically, the company—known as one of the major players in Indonesia’s paper industry—is believed to generate trillions of rupiah in profits annually. However, for local partners who have completed their work, payments are reportedly slow and prolonged.
Director of PT Rodeki Dinamika, Rusdianto, told reporters that invoices for work completed in 2023, amounting to Rp3,351,906,239, have still not been paid.
“Since 2023 we have suffered losses. The invoice worth Rp3.35 billion has not been paid until today, even though the work has already been completed,” Rusdianto stated firmly.
According to him, the situation has forced the company to find ways to survive while ensuring employees continue to receive their wages.
“As a leader, I must ensure that my employees are paid. In the end, we had to take bank loans to cover operational costs and workers’ salaries during the project,” he explained.
Outstanding Bills, Mounting Bank Interest
Rusdianto said his company has repeatedly requested payment from the management of the corporation.
The requests were made through:
official letters
direct communication
administrative confirmations
However, there has been no clear resolution so far.
“We have requested payment several times through formal letters and direct communication, but it always seems to be avoided,” Rusdianto said.
This situation has raised serious questions among local business actors: whether other companies working as partners have experienced similar treatment.
NGO Raises Concerns Over Alleged Injustice Toward Local Companies
Secretary General of the NGO Forkorindo, Timbul Sinaga SE, stated that the issue should not be seen as an ordinary business matter.
According to him, large corporations should set an example of fair corporate governance toward their partners, especially local companies that support their operational activities.
“This is very unfortunate. A company that reportedly earns billions of rupiah every day is delaying payments to local partners for years,” Timbul Sinaga emphasized.
He questioned whether the delay was an internal management decision or if there were other factors making the payment difficult.
“The question is whether this is a policy from the commissioners or the president director that causes payments to local companies to be deliberately complicated,” he said.
NGO Ready to Take Legal Action and Bring the Issue to the Indonesian Parliament
Timbul Sinaga explained that the DPD of Forkorindo together with the DPC in Siak Regency has received a formal mandate from the Director of PT Rodeki Dinamika to pursue the payment claim.
Possible steps include:
filing a legal lawsuit
reporting alleged breach of contract
submitting public complaints to the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI)
requesting a hearing with relevant ministries
“If necessary, we will bring this issue to the DPR RI for open discussion. This is not only about one company, but about the protection of local businesses,” he said.
Regulatory Spotlight: Companies May Face Breach of Contract Claims
Legally, delayed contract payments are already regulated under several Indonesian laws, including:
Article 1238 of the Indonesian Civil Code
A debtor is considered negligent if they fail to fulfill payment obligations according to the agreement.
Article 1243 of the Indonesian Civil Code
The injured party has the right to claim compensation for losses caused by breach of contract.
Law No. 5 of 1999
Concerning the prohibition of monopolistic practices and unfair business competition if a dominant company pressures its business partners.
Law No. 20 of 2008
Concerning Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which obliges large companies to maintain fair partnerships with smaller businesses.
Proposed New Regulations: Sanctions for Companies Delaying Payments
Seeing similar cases repeatedly occur in various regions, activists and business observers have proposed new regulations:
Proposed policy framework:
Maximum payment period of 60–90 days after work completion.
Automatic penalties if payment is delayed for more than three months.
Administrative sanctions, including:
suspension of business licenses
revocation of investment incentives
prohibition from participating in government projects.
Blacklist for companies that delay payments to partners for more than one year.
Government audits of large companies that withhold payments from local contractors.
Serious Questions for the Management
This case now raises several critical questions:
Why can a multi-billion rupiah invoice remain unpaid for three years?
Are there administrative problems or internal company policies behind the delay?
Have other partner companies experienced the same situation?
As of the publication of this report, the management of PT Indo Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk has not yet provided an official statement regarding the outstanding invoice claim. (Red)
