In Indonesia’s corporate landscape, stories of workers grappling with delayed salaries, denied benefits, and a justice system that often fails to uphold their rights rarely make headlines. This collection of testimonies from former employees of a prominent company, Orbit Future Academy (OFA), paints a stark picture of the challenges faced by many.
P: The Bitter Irony of Mismanagement and Campaign Promises
P joined OFA with such high hopes. The founder Ilham Akbar Habibie came from a prestigious family, a name everyone recognized, and they promised innovation and a bright future. P was so naive. It turned out to be a complete nightmare. The company was a mess – salaries were delayed for months, and sometimes they weren’t paid. “We begged them, pleaded with them to pay us what we were owed,” P remembers, his anger and frustration still fresh. “But they just ignored us.” It was sickening.
The founder, who preached about morality and doing good, was busy throwing money at his political campaigns while his employees were struggling to survive. Later, P realized OFA was built on a foundation of sand. They relied way too much on government projects – like, 90% of their revenue came from those deals. Habibie’s legacy name opened doors, sure, but governments change, priorities shift, and those projects vanished overnight. OFA was so comfortable with this government money (B2G they called it) that they completely neglected other avenues like selling to consumers (B2C) or other businesses (B2B). By the time those government projects dried up, it was too late.
To make matters worse, the management was ridiculously wasteful. P still remembers that fancy and luxurious Puncak villas where they took the managers for a retreat. They had a blast, of course, who wouldn’t? But then, two months later, they weren’t getting paid. It was infuriating. And every time they got a new investment, they’d go on a hiring spree, launching ambitious projects and then not being able to pay the people they hired.
Then the tech winter hit, interest rates went crazy, and investors pulled out. OFA wasn’t exactly the hottest company in the market, so they were left high and dry.
But the real disaster was the company culture. The top executives were corrupt, playing favorites, having affairs, and just generally being hypocrites. It was toxic. P saw firsthand how the founder’s popularity and connections were used to cut corners, crush competitors, and even break the law. It was a harsh reminder that fame and fortune don’t always equate to ethical behavior.
P was also disappointed by the expat managers who were brought in with much fanfare. They spoke eloquently about their global experience, but many of them were more interested in taking advantage of the situation than in actually helping the company succeed. “Don’t be fooled by fancy titles and fluent English,” P warns. “Some of these expats are just wolves in sheep’s clothing.”
The hypocrisy was astounding. “The leaders loved to talk about morality and integrity,” P recalls, “but their actions were a different story. They were experts at preaching, but terrible at practicing.” It was a painful reminder that even the most charismatic and seemingly pious individuals can have a dark side.
Looking back, it was a brutal experience, but P learned some hard lessons:
- Don’t be fooled by a fancy family name or a charismatic personality. A famous last name doesn’t guarantee good leadership. It can sometimes be used as a shield for unethical behavior.
- Always question the leaders, even if they have impressive resumes or speak fluent English. Look at their actual track record, not just their promises.
- Be wary of people in power who preach morality. Actions speak louder than words. Not everyone has the mental and spiritual capacity to live up to their ideals.
- Never rely on one job for your financial security. Things can change in an instant. Even the most stable company can crumble. Keep your network active, and your skills sharp, and always be open to new opportunities.
- Remember that everyone has the potential for darkness. Wealth, fame, and intelligence can be used to mask unethical behavior. Always be vigilant and trust your gut.
P hopes his story serves as a warning to others. Do your research, trust your gut, and always, always have a backup plan.
A : A Financial Downward Spiral and how it affected his family
For A, the delayed salary payments weren’t just an inconvenience; they were a descent into a living nightmare. “Four months of unpaid wages – four months!” A’s voice cracks with the lingering trauma. “My emergency fund vanished. I had to borrow money from relatives, take out high-interest loans just to keep my head above water.” The shame was almost unbearable. A, a new father, reduced to begging for money to feed his family. “I felt like a complete failure,” he confesses, the pain etched deep in his eyes.
As if the financial strain wasn’t enough, tragedy struck. A lost loved ones during this period, adding another layer of grief and responsibility. He was drowning, and OFA, the company that owed him his livelihood, threw him an anchor instead of a lifeline. “They kept lying about when we’d get paid,” A recalls, the bitterness palpable. “Then, they threatened to not pay us anything at all, blaming ‘cash flow issues.’ They treated us like dirt.”
The irony was cruel and cutting. While A was struggling to buy diapers for his newborn, the CEO and the management team jetted off to India for a lavish wedding celebration for the CEO’s son. “It felt like they were rubbing our faces in it,” A says, his voice filled with anger. “They were living the high life while we were scraping by.”
The constant stress, the mounting debt, the feeling of helplessness – it all took a devastating toll on A’s mental health. “There were days,” he admits, his voice barely a whisper, “when I didn’t want to go on. I thought about ending it all. I couldn’t provide for my family, I was a burden on everyone…” His relationship with his wife deteriorated, the constant worry and resentment creating a chasm between them.
“The stress was unbearable,” A recounts, the pain still raw. “It poisoned everything. My marriage, my relationship with my parents… everything.” Even now, with a new job, the shadow of that experience lingers. “The debt is crippling,” he says, “Recovery feels impossible. I don’t know how I’ll ever dig myself out of this hole.”
A’s story is a heartbreaking testament to the devastating consequences of delayed salary payments. It’s a reminder that financial insecurity doesn’t just affect your bank account; it can shatter your mental health, your relationships, and your very sense of self.
D: The CEO Who Thrived on Drama: Inside Look at OFA’s Toxic Workplace
“My time at OFA? Honestly, it was a rollercoaster of emotions, mostly the bad kind,” D recounts, her voice laced with a mix of frustration, anger and disbelief. “The delayed salaries were a constant source of stress. I mean, everyone understands that things can get tight occasionally, but this was ridiculous. Weeks turned into months, and the excuses kept piling up – ‘clients haven’t paid,’ ‘waiting for investors’… It was like a broken record!”
D’s frustration mounts as she delves deeper into her experience. “The worst part was the blatant mismanagement. They cried poverty while spending extravagantly. The CEO and leaders took a ‘business trip’ to Bali for example, complete with fancy accommodations and entertainment. Then there was the CEO’s son’s engagement party in India – all expenses paid for select leaders. It’s like they thought we were stupid!”
“And you want to hear something truly outrageous?” D asks, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “It’s almost comical, if it wasn’t so infuriating. See, most employees wouldn’t care if their boss had a mistress, right? As long as it doesn’t affect them. But this…” she pauses, shaking her head in disbelief, “this was something else. He basically hired his mistress as an employee! Can you believe that?”
D’s voice rises with indignation. “And it wouldn’t even be so bad if she had any skills, or contributed anything to the company. But no! She was completely incompetent, yet she was earning a massive salary – 80 million rupiah! Plus, they paid for her apartment! It’s insane! That’s more than some of the professors, C-levels and expats were making. It’s like they were throwing money down the drain while we were struggling to make ends meet.”
Her anger simmers as she recalls the CEO’s hypocrisy. “He wrote a book about securing investors, touted himself as some kind of visionary, but couldn’t even manage the company’s finances. And the irony? He admitted he thrived on chaos, on drama. That explained why he hired incompetent people who caused more problems than they solved.”
The constant uncertainty and blatant disregard for employees’ well-being took a toll on D. “It was demoralizing,” she admits. “We reported the salary delays to the labor department (more on this later), but OFA always found a way to weasel out of it. They’d issue a statement promising to pay, but nothing would happen. It’s been a year, and I’m still owed a significant amount.”
D’s experience at OFA left her disillusioned and wary. “It’s made me realize that even big names and fancy titles can’t hide incompetence and unethical behavior. It’s a tough lesson to learn, but it’s one I won’t forget anytime soon.”
Z: Lingering Stress Amidst Industry Turmoil
Though Z eventually received partial payments, the experience left a lasting impact. “The stress of not having money during layoffs was overwhelming,” Z shared. The situation was further aggravated by the challenging climate in the tech industry, particularly in the edtech sector, where massive layoffs were rampant. This not only left Z struggling to meet her monthly needs but also made the prospect of finding new employment in the short term seem daunting.
“It felt like a double blow,” Z explained. “I was already dealing with the financial and emotional strain of unpaid wages, and then to be laid off in such a difficult job market was incredibly disheartening.” For Z, the psychological scars of uncertainty and instability persist, highlighting the compounded impact of delayed payments and industry volatility on employees’ well-being.
X: The Skepticism Born from Unpaid Dues
X, still waiting for her unpaid wages, feels disillusioned. “In my two years of working experience, I’ve never encountered a salary delay, not even for a single day. So, experiencing months of delayed salary at OFA has deeply impacted my life, especially financially.”
X’s voice carried a hint of bitterness as she continued, “Each employee is owed a different amount; some have received most of their due, while others are still waiting for a significant sum. Even though management issued a letter outlining a payment schedule, the actual implementation has been plagued by delays and uncertainties.”
The emotional toll of the situation is evident in X’s words. “Honestly, it’s been incredibly stressful,” she admitted. “I work because I need the money. As an employee, I have the right to be paid, but OFA has failed to fulfill this basic obligation.”
This experience has left X disillusioned and skeptical. “It’s made me realize that even companies owned by prominent figures can have serious internal management issues,” she reflected. “This whole ordeal has shaken my trust and left me feeling deeply insecure about my financial future.”
O: The Unfulfilled Promise of Legal Protection
O, despite receiving full payment post-resignation, recounts the inadequacies of the legal system. “The court’s decision was weak; it ordered payment but gave no timeline, letting the company evade accountability for months.” O’s experience points to a larger issue—how Indonesia’s legal system often falls short in protecting workers, even when laws are in place.
These testimonies highlight a troubling reality: the systemic failure of Indonesia to protect its workforce. Labor laws exist, but enforcement remains weak, and penalties for violations are often insufficient. Employees are left vulnerable, relying on public exposure rather than legal recourse for justice.
This isn’t just a story about one company; it’s a story about a nation grappling with corporate accountability and worker rights. Until Indonesia addresses these gaps—strengthening enforcement mechanisms, ensuring timely justice, and holding companies accountable—the struggles of workers like P, A, S, E, and O will persist.
Their stories demand more than empathy; they demand action. For a country striving to build a robust economy, ensuring the rights of its workers is not just a moral imperative—it’s a necessity for sustainable growth.