{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1473001,
        "msgid": "the-social-security-bill-1447893297",
        "date": "2004-02-20 00:00:00",
        "title": "The social security bill",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "The social security bill I refer to an article in The Jakarta Post on Feb. 17, 2004, on page 4, on the national social security bill currently being considered by the House of Representatives. First of all, it is not appropriate for the government to push for the quick passage of this bill without properly consulting all involved stakeholders (businesses, labor unions and research institutes) or to disregard the views of those who have expressed concern on the provisions of this bill.",
        "content": "<p>The social security bill<\/p>\n<p>I refer to an article in The Jakarta Post on Feb. 17, 2004, on<br>\npage 4, on the national social security bill currently being<br>\nconsidered by the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n<p>First of all, it is not appropriate for the government to push<br>\nfor the quick passage of this bill without properly consulting<br>\nall involved stakeholders (businesses, labor unions and research<br>\ninstitutes) or to disregard the views of those who have expressed<br>\nconcern on the provisions of this bill. Instead, the government<br>\nshould sit together with these stakeholders and revise the bill<br>\nso that a social security system that takes into account the<br>\neconomic structure of Indonesia can be developed.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, it is not correct that the four state-owned<br>\ninsurance firms running the current social security scheme will<br>\nbe merged into a single, nonprofit entity. According to the most<br>\nrecent version of the bill (dated Jan. 16, 2004), these firms<br>\nwould continue to operate the programs they managed currently and<br>\nwould retain their legal status as for-profit (Persero)<br>\ncorporations. This contradicts the aim of the national social<br>\nsecurity program, which is supposed to be run on a nonprofit<br>\nbasis, and is something the House should address when it<br>\ndeliberates the bill.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, it should be noted that the Southeast Asian countries<br>\nmentioned as the model for our social security scheme (the<br>\nPhilippines, Thailand and Vietnam) still have problems<br>\nincorporating all of their citizens into their social security<br>\nprograms and it is estimated that the schemes they run will not<br>\nbe financially sustainable in coming decades. This should serve<br>\nas a warning for those of us who wish to imitate the system here.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of endorsing this bill without substantial changes,<br>\npolicymakers should significantly revise it so that the bill will<br>\nnot create additional burdens for workers and businesses, is<br>\nfinancially sustainable both now and in the future, and will<br>\npromote competition in the provision of social security coverage<br>\nfor Indonesians instead of running it as a government monopoly.<\/p>\n<p>ALEX ARIFIANTO<br>\nJakarta<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-social-security-bill-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}