Vinfast’s Indonesia plant is facing union busting allegations and organized protests from disgruntled workers.
The Latest: After VinFast terminated the contracts of 12 union officials at its Indonesia plant, hundreds of workers protested at the factory in Subang Regency on Oct. 22.
- Led by Dadan Sudiana, chair of the West Java chapter of the National Workers Union (SPN), the group demanded that the company reinstate the dismissed union officials, according to state broadcaster RRI.
On the afternoon of Nov. 10, Luật Khoa Magazine emailed VinFast Indonesia for comment but had not received a reply at the time of publication.
The Details: Local media described the protest as drawing “hundreds of people,” with protesters blocking the provincial road linking Subang and Cikamurang for several minutes to deliver speeches, halting traffic in both directions.
- VinFast management soon met with worker representatives; however, the talks failed to progress because the company’s representative stated that they possessed no authority to make a decision.
- Dadan Sudiana noted that the union was permitted to meet only with the human resources and administration department, rather than the company owners.
- On the same day, a lawyer for SPN West Java reported the alleged union busting to the Subang Regency Police.
The company is also accused of “intimidating” the union and “obstructing its activities.”
- Utama Kertadria, head of policy advocacy at SPN Subang, stated that after the union registered with the Subang Regency Manpower Office, VinFast management dispatched individuals to union officials’ homes to pressure them to quit.
- He reported that local village officials also visited their homes and even met the union officials’ parents.
- Kertadria characterized the 12 dismissals as the culmination of a pattern of intimidation, asserting that SPN Subang possesses evidence that management applied pressure prior to the firings.
Vinfast’s Statement: VinFast claims that it ended the 12 contracts to streamline its workforce.
- However, Indra Kardiansyah, chair of SPN Subang, called the “streamlining” explanation “absurd and fabricated,” since the dismissals came right after workers formed a union.
- Additionally, he cited West Java Gov. Dedi Mulyadi, who said during a visit to the plant that VinFast requires as many as 8,000 workers.
Prior Disputes: On Dec. 16, 2025, one day after VinFast inaugurated its EV plant in Subang, hundreds of nearby residents protested. They demanded that the company prioritize hiring local workers.
Factory Details: VinFast inaugurated its EV plant in Subang on Dec. 15, 2025.
The facility is the company’s fourth plant worldwide and its first in Southeast Asia outside of Việt Nam.
The 171-hectare plant is being constructed in phases, with a total planned investment of more than $1 billion.
- For the first phase alone, VinFast invested more than $300 million for a production capacity of 50,000 vehicles a year.
- At full capacity, the plant is expected to create 5,000 to 15,000 direct jobs for local workers.
The Background: Prior to the mass firings, SPN met with VinFast representatives at Indonesia’s Manpower Ministry on Oct. 12.
- At that time, VinFast had fired five union officials; Deputy Manpower Minister Afriansyah Noor asked the company to reinstate all five individuals.
- VinFast requested more time and promised to respond by Oct. 15.
It remains unclear what the company ultimately told the ministry.
Why It Matters: Indonesia treats union busting as a crime.
- Article 28 of Trade Union Law No. 21/2000 bars anyone from preventing or forcing workers to form, hold office in, or join a union.
- Article 43 sets penalties of one to five years in prison and/or fines of 100 million to 500 million rupiah (approximately 141 million to 708 million đồng, or $5,500 to $27,700).
Thành Phương wrote this news article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on Nov. 11, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine translated it into English.
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