The finance minister has checked the government's latest move to try and expand the role of the flagship cooperatives program by doubling down on the current mechanism of bank transfers to pay civil servants' salaries.

One of the new pro-growth policies Bank Indonesia announced on Wednesday was a reduction in the statutory reserve requirement, or the minimum amount of funds banks have to deposit at the central bank to cover their liabilities and ensure liquidity within the banking system.

Indonesian coal prices rose to US$154 per tonne for coal with a calorific value of 6,330 kcal/kg.

The government said its decision to extend by two years deadlines originally set for October 2026, primarily for F&B and pharmaceutical, cosmetics and personal care goods, was based on input from various associations.

Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono previously said the initiative to involve cooperatives in the salary disbursement would be implemented this year as part of efforts to expand the role of cooperatives, particularly in financial services.  

The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) has raised the bar for companies to go public despite sluggish listing activity so far this year, as it prioritizes investor protection.  

The Industry Ministry has pushed back against the suspension of a major data center site in West Java, warning that conflicting, misaligned policies between the central government and regional administrations could undermine business confidence and disrupt investment.  

Indonesia has an estimated annual lobster larvae potential of 465.8 million, including stocks along the southern coast of Java, West Nusa Tenggara and Sumatra.

The Transportation Ministry will include ride-hailing motorcycles in the draft revision of Law No. 22/2009 on road traffic and transportation, covering two-wheeled passenger transportation, as well as motorcycle-based delivery of goods and food, with deliberations targeted for completion this year.

The concern follows West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi’s decision to temporarily halt construction of a BDx data center in Jatiluhur, West Java, despite having attended the project’s groundbreaking ceremony on July 28. 

The Finance Ministry has announced mandatory belt-tightening in government institutions but at the same time insists that budget execution is on course to meet the fiscal plan for this year.

Labor unions hail the new legislation as a win for workers, thanks to more rigid arrangements on contract work, outsourcing, layoffs and severance payments.

Nickel prices fell to a year-to-date low of US$15,510 a tonne on Oct. 2, with further downside risks likely to hinge on Indonesia’s nickel supply policy, according to Fitch’s BMI Research.  

Forestry think-tank Auriga Nusantara estimates that forest loss in Indonesia surged by 66 percent in 2025 to 433,751 ha, its highest level in eight years, with more than 78,000 ha linked to food and energy self-sufficiency programs.

The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) is cautiously reintroducing short-selling in equities in a move to improve liquidity on the local bourse, but the measure could have negative side effects unless it comes with stringent regulatory enforcement.

Analysts warned that the change could signal less emphasis on non-mineral industries such as textiles and footwear, while the energy transition could take a back seat when it conflicts with the government’s increasingly dominant downstreaming agenda.

Though details are still being ironed out, the subsidy plan aims to ease price-related pressures on soybean importers while ensuring their availability and affordability, including for consumers of tofu and tempeh.

The government targeted to finalize the bill before the end of October, following a Constitutional Court ruling on October 2024 that ordered the establishment of a new employment law separate from the Job Creation Law within two years.   

Despite the deadlock, lawmakers are still targeting Oct. 8, or sooner, to pass the bill before entering a recess that will last until next month.  

The government is rolling out a new stimulus package to support consumer spending and employment in the fourth quarter of 2026, with some measures to remain in place after the turn of the year.

The 2027 budget plan passed last week foresees the highest tax revenue relative to gross domestic product in the past decade, which the government aims to achieve without introducing new levies or hiking rates.

The 2027 State Budget Law passed Tuesday gives the finance minister authority to conduct examinations and special audits of state revenue collection, which companies worry may hold up tax refunds and hurt their cash flow.  

The RKAB approval process should follow the established fourth-quarter timeline to avoid any delays, which could impact miners' operational readiness, production planning and other related aspects alongside state revenue potential, two industry associations have stressed.

The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) pointed out issues faced by businesses, such as shifting investment toward capital-intensive industries and the declining capacity of several sectors to absorb jobs.  

The head of the state-owned battery holding company has urged stronger, more integrated policy support to streamline the nickel battery industry so it could better meet domestic demand and build resilience against foreign imports seeking to enter the local EV market.

Four small businesses and 25 Democratic-led states argue that the tariffs, applied to imports from 60 trading partners including the EU and China, far exceed the president's authority.

BPJS Kesehatan president director Prihati Pujowaskito said the agency had collected Rp 118 trillion in premiums as of September, while it had paid Rp 132 trillion in healthcare benefits, leaving a cash flow deficit of around Rp 14 trillion.