Kepmenaker 256/2026 Establishes 18 Competency Standards for Oil and Gas Emergency and Crisis Response

Introduction

On 15 September 2026, the Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia (“Ministry of Manpower”) issued Minister of Manpower Decree Number 256 of 2026 concerning the Determination of Indonesian National Work Competency Standards (“SKKNI”) for the Mining and Quarrying Category, Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Mining Major Group, in the Field of Emergency Response, Crisis, and Business Continuity Management (“Kepmenaker 256/2026”), which came into force as of the date of its issuance. This Decree establishes competency standards for workers responsible for emergency response, crisis, and business continuity in oil and gas business activities (“oil and gas”).

Kepmenaker 256/2026 aims to provide a reference for the development of national qualification levels, the provision of education and training, and the competency certification of workers in the field of emergency response, crisis, and business continuity management. The determination constitutes the implementation of Article 31 of Minister of Manpower Regulation Number 3 of 2016 concerning Procedures for the Determination of SKKNI and follows up on the results of the national convention on the Draft SKKNI held on 18 December 2025 in Jakarta, as well as the application submitted by the Director of Oil and Gas Engineering and Environment, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, through Letter Number B-838/MG.06/DMT/2026 dated 27 January 2026.

Key Provisions

• Structure and Legitimacy of the Formulation of the Standards

The FIRST Dictum stipulates that these SKKNI are set out in full in the Appendix to the Decree, which constitutes an inseparable part of this Ministerial Decree. The Appendix was prepared through a formal process involving the Oil and Gas Sector RSKKNI Competency Standards Committee (established pursuant to Decree of the Director General of Oil and Gas Number 169.K/HK.02/DJM/2022), as well as the Drafting Team and Verification Team established through Decree of the Director of Oil and Gas Engineering and Environment Number 67.K/MG.06/DMT/2025, comprising representatives from the Directorate General of Oil and Gas, PPSDM Migas, Professional Certification Bodies (LSP), oil and gas business entities (such as Pertamina Hulu and BP Berau), and the Indonesian Association of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Drilling Companies (APMI).

• Function and Intended Use of the SKKNI (Section C of the Appendix)

These SKKNI are designed to be utilized by three groups of stakeholders:

1. 1. educational and training institutions, as a reference for curriculum development and the provision of training;

   2. the business/industrial sector, as a reference for recruitment, performance assessment, and the preparation of job descriptions; and

   3. institutions conducting testing and certification, as a reference for the preparation of certification program packages in accordance with the relevant qualifications and levels.

• Competency Map: Four Main Functions

Chapter II of the Appendix maps the competencies into four Main Functions encompassing a total of 18 competency units (codes B.06ERT00.001.1 through B.06ERT00.018.1), as set out in the FIRST Dictum in conjunction with Section B of Chapter II of the Appendix:

1. Ensuring the Planning of Emergency Response, Crisis, and Business Continuity Management

This includes risk evaluation and program determination units:

a. Evaluating Potential Emergency and Crisis Risks in the Oil and Gas Industry (Unit 001.1);

b. Evaluating Potential Business Disruption Risks (002.1);

c. Evaluating Relevant Laws and Regulations and Requirements (003.1);

d. Determining Organization and Procedures (004.1);

e. Determining Emergency and Crisis Response Management Resources (005.1); and

f. Determining Business Continuity Management Resources (006.1).

These units require the ability to identify Major Accident Hazards (MAH), establish risk mitigation priorities based on the PEARL framework (People, Environment, Asset, Reputation, Liability), and design an integrated emergency response organizational structure.

2. Ensuring Implementation (Preparedness)

This includes:

a. Implementing Personnel Development and Competency Programs (007.1);

b. Maintaining the Readiness of Emergency Response Infrastructure and Equipment (008.1);

c. Maintaining the Readiness of Business Continuity Management Infrastructure and Information Technology (009.1); and

d. Inspecting Preparedness Procedures (010.1).

These units emphasize periodic training, simulations (table-top exercises, field exercises), maintenance of emergency facilities, and audits of procedural conformity with standards such as ISO 22301, ISO 22320, and NFPA 1600.

3. Activating Response Management

This includes:

a. Leading Emergency Response Operations at the Incident Site (011.1);

b. Leading Emergency and Crisis Response Management Support (012.1);

c. Leading the Implementation of Business Continuity Management in Accordance with the Organizational Context (013.1); and

d. Implementing Business Continuity Management in Affected Functions (014.1).

These units require Incident Commander competencies, the preparation and execution of an Incident Action Plan (IAP), and the activation of a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) when a Business Disruption occurs.

4. Ensuring Continuous Improvement

This includes:

a. Assessing the Conformity, Adequacy, and Effectiveness of Simulations, Exercises, and Actual Incident Response Activities (015.1);

b. Conducting Performance and Compliance Audits (016.1);

c. Implementing Continuous Improvement Based on Performance Evaluation Results (017.1); and

d. Communicating Evaluation Results and Changes (018.1).

These units require post-incident evaluation (After Action Review), periodic compliance audits, and reporting of improvement recommendations to management and internal stakeholders.

Each competency unit, as described in Section C of Chapter II of the Appendix, is prepared using a standardized format: Unit Code, Unit Title, Unit Description, Competency Elements together with Performance Criteria, Variable Limitations (including reference regulations and standards such as the Manpower Law, Oil and Gas Law, Disaster Management Law, as well as international standards ISO 31000, ISO 45001, OSHA, and API RP 754), and Assessment Guidelines covering the assessment context, competency requirements, required knowledge/skills, work attitudes, and critical assessment aspects.

Closing

Kepmenaker 256/2026 provides a structured competency framework for workers in the oil and gas sector in managing emergency response, crisis, and business continuity through 18 competency units covering planning, preparedness, response, and continuous improvement. These SKKNI also serve as a reference for businesses, educational and training institutions, and certification bodies in the development of competencies and assessment of workers.

With Kepmenaker 256/2026 coming into force as of 15 September 2026, oil and gas business operators and relevant stakeholders need to ensure the alignment of competency requirements, training programs, emergency response procedures, and certification mechanisms with the established standards. The implementation of these SKKNI is expected to strengthen organizational readiness to prevent, respond to, and recover from the impacts of emergencies, crises, and business disruptions in a systematic manner.