What if your father lost his job not because of incompetence, but because of someone else's greed? What if your mother wept at night, not from illness, but from unpaid wages? Behind every corporate scandal lies not just numbers, but broken families, crushed hopes, and lives thrown into chaos. Warm regards, we, Johana Sophia Prayoga (XI-2), Fritz Mayer Raphael (XI-2), Muhammad Farel Al Fawwaz Zam Zam (XI-4), Zahra (XI-1), Alif Fachrizal Aji Pratama (XI-2), Irvin Livingstone Siahaan (XI-4), are 11th grade students from SMA Pradita Dirgantara. This writing is a personal reflection of the Sritex case, as part of our Civics assignment.
Sritex was once a giant in Southeast Asia's textile industry, known for its high-quality military uniforms and global exports. With tens of thousands of employees, the company became the economic heartbeat of Sukoharjo. Surrounding the factory, countless small traders, food vendors, and transport services thrived on the daily flow of workers. Entire families depended on Sritex for their livelihoods. For years, the company was a source of pride, not just for the region, but for Indonesia as a symbol of industrial success and resilience. At some point, Sritex found itself entangled in massive debts, struggling to pay suppliers, banks, and even its workers. Once a thriving empire, the company began to crumble under financial pressure. Rumors of mismanagement and unpaid salaries spread, leaving employees and the local community in deep uncertainty and fear.
When a Corporation Collapses, Who Bears the Pain?
What would you do if the decisions of corporate elites destroyed the lives of thousands of families? The Sritex case is not merely a story about corruption or the bankruptcy of a textile giant. It is a tragic tale of betrayed trust, stolen dreams, and a moral dilemma that shakes our sense of social justice. While the company leaders chose to save personal assets and enrich themselves with state credit funds, more than 10,000 employees had to swallow a bitter reality: job loss, no certainty of severance pay, and a future that suddenly went dark.
The Irony of Law and Ethics
Legally, the bankruptcy process indeed hands over the responsibility of severance payment to a curator. But ethically, can someone who has enjoyed the profits from the hard work of thousands of laborers for years simply say, "That's no longer my responsibility"?
This is the most painful moral dilemma. Iwan Setiawan Lukminto and Iwan Kurniawan Lukminto, two key figures behind Southeast Asia's largest textile company, chose to hide behind legal and administrative processes to escape their responsibility toward thousands of workers. In fact, the luxury and power they now possess are the result of relentless labor by their employees.
The Price of Greed
When a credit loan worth Rp692 billion, meant for working capital, was instead used to buy land and settle personal debts, we are forced to ask a fundamental question: how high is the price of greed? The state suffered a loss of nearly Rp700 billion. But the greater loss is social, children dropping out of school because their parents were laid off, families struggling without income, and a generation of workers who feel unappreciated. This is not only a legal violation but a violation of conscience and humanity.
Who Deserves to Be Called a Leader?
A true leader is not someone who stands on the podium during times of profit, but one who remains accountable when storms come. Sadly, Sritex has shown the face of a corporation that only cares about profit, not the people behind the production machines.
The refusal to pay severance, even though the legal obligation now lies with the curator, reflects a loss of social responsibility. The Deputy Minister of Manpower, Immanuel Ebenezer, firmly stated that the moral responsibility still rests on the shoulders of the previous management. This is not just about numbers on a balance sheet, but about justice for the people who gave their lives to the company.
When Workers Become the Final Victims
The Confederation of Nusantara Trade Unions (KSPN) recorded that 10,965 workers have been laid off since early 2025. These are not just statistics. Behind every number is a family, children, and shattered dreams.
The curator is indeed preparing to auction off Sritex's assets starting in July, but will that be enough to fulfill the rights of workers, whose numbers are extraordinarily high? Especially when we see that the amount of debt far exceeds the value of assets available for sale. Even the President of KSPN acknowledges that this struggle could take a very long time.
The Nation's Dilemma: Legal Justice or Social Justice?
The Attorney General's Office has shown firmness by naming Iwan a suspect, but the legal process could take a long time. Meanwhile, former Sritex workers are battling hunger, household debt, and anxiety about the future. The country is facing a major dilemma: should we be satisfied with merely punishing the corrupt, or must we also ensure that the victims of corruption do not continue to suffer?
The Ministry of Manpower's swift action in guaranteeing new job placements is a good step. But will that be enough without real efforts to restore the economic well-being of workers' families?
Time to Cultivate Shame Among Elites
Parliament has also asked the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) to trace all fund flows. This is important, but don't stop there. We need a culture of shame among business leaders. Shame for betraying workers. Shame for abandoning responsibilities. Shame for destroying public trust.
Ahmad Sahroni from Commission III of the DPR stated, "Thousands of employees lost their jobs due to the personal interests of the elite." This statement illustrates a real social wound: a betrayal of dedication and loyalty.
A Dilemma for All of Us
The Sritex case is not just a dilemma for businesspeople and officials. It is a dilemma for all of us as a nation: do we want to build a country that only protects capital, or do we also want to be a nation that upholds humanity and justice?
May this case serve as a mirror for the business world in Indonesia. Building a great company must be done with integrity, not deception; with responsibility, not avoidance. Because once trust is lost, not only does the business collapse, but so does our human dignity.
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