Reading a job offer: what to check before accepting

A great offer in an email still needs to be read like a contract, because it is the start of your contract. This guide helps you take an offer apart: what needs to be on paper, what to ask, and where to get advice before accepting.

Get everything in writing

You should receive the offer letter and the draft employment agreement in writing before you answer. If the offer is still a phone call or chat, ask for a summary by email. Verbal promises about salary, bonus or benefits are hard to enforce later.

Pay: break it into components

Do not stop at the total. Ask:

• how much is basic wage, how much is fixed allowance and how much is non-fixed allowance;
• whether there is a bonus or incentive, and whether it is guaranteed or depends on company policy;
• what the take-home is after BPJS deductions and tax.

The breakdown matters because it sets the base for overtime pay (PP 35/2021 Art. 32), PKWT compensation (PP 35/2021 Art. 16), and the wage reported to BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, which is the basis for JKP (PP 6/2025 Art. 21). See working hours and overtime and BPJS.

THR

Employers must pay religious holiday allowance (THR) to workers who have worked at least 1 continuous month, whether PKWTT or PKWT. The amount is 1 month of wages for 12 months of service or more, and proportional for less than 12 months. THR must be paid at the latest 7 days before the religious holiday (Manpower Minister Regulation 6/2016 Arts. 2, 3 and 5). If the company promises a larger THR or another scheme, ask for the terms in writing.

PKWT or PKWTT, and probation

• Check whether your offer is a PKWT (fixed-term) or a PKWTT (permanent). See check your contract for what a PKWT may and may not contain, including compensation when the contract ends.
• Probation is allowed only for PKWTT, for at most 3 months, and pay during probation may not fall below the minimum wage (Law 13/2003 Art. 60). A PKWT may not require probation; if it does, that clause is void by law (Law 6/2023 Art. 58).
• If you are placed through a vendor or outsourcing company, ask who the employer signing your contract is and who is responsible for your wages and rights (PP 35/2021 Art. 18).

Hours, leave and overtime

• How many hours a week, and is there on-call or shift work? The general rule is 40 hours a week (Law 6/2023 Art. 77).
• Is your role declared a grade that gets no overtime pay? That must be set out in company documents (PP 35/2021 Art. 27).
• How many days of annual leave, and when can you start using them? The law sets at least 12 working days after 12 continuous months of work (Law 6/2023 Art. 79).

Things to read twice

• Service bonds and penalties. If there are any, read how long, how much, and what triggers them.
• Non-compete, confidentiality, intellectual property and side work. In the sources we checked there is no specific provision stating whether non-compete clauses for employees are valid, so do not assume such a clause is definitely valid or definitely invalid. Get advice before signing if the clause limits you from working in the same industry, or claims work done outside working hours and outside your job.
• Holding of diplomas or original documents. The government previously announced a ban on holding diplomas through a circular, and the ban is reported to be written into the Employment Protection Law, which is not yet in force (kumparan, 7 October 2026). If you are asked to hand over an original diploma, ask why and offer a copy.

Negotiating

You may negotiate. Some habits that help:

• ask for the pay range and its components first;
• discuss the whole package, not just the basic figure: basic wage, fixed allowance, bonus, leave, hours, salary review schedule;
• ask for changes to be written into the offer letter or agreement, not only agreed in chat;
• give a clear time to answer, for example “may I reply on Thursday?”

See also interview preparation for the salary conversation.

Short checklist

1. Offer letter and draft agreement received in writing.
2. The employer’s legal entity is clearly named.
3. PKWT or PKWTT, and probation (if any).
4. Breakdown of basic wage, fixed and non-fixed allowances.
5. BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and BPJS Kesehatan: which programmes.
6. THR, bonus and leave in writing.
7. Hours, overtime and on-call.
8. Service bond, non-compete, confidentiality and side work.

When to get help

• A clause limits you from working elsewhere, a large penalty applies, or you are asked to hand over original documents.
• The company refuses to give you a written agreement.
• The offer asks you to pay something.

Places to try: a legal adviser or lawyer, or LBH (Lembaga Bantuan Hukum, legal aid institutes). REKATI is not affiliated with them and does not take cases. At REKATI events you can also ask other Kawan about their experience at the same company, but that is not legal advice.