30,344 vulnerable workers in Kudus covered by workers' social security

Kudus (ANTARA) - A total of 30,344 vulnerable workers in Kudus Regency, Central Java, are receiving protection under employment social security after the local government again registered their membership with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan.

“After last year we also registered vulnerable workers, this year we have again maintained it. This programme is a form of the local government’s commitment to workers who do not receive a fixed wage or work in the informal sector,” said Kudus Regent Sam’ani Intakoris, in Kudus, Thursday.

He stressed that the protection programme for vulnerable workers is part of his administration’s vision and mission together with Deputy Regent Bellinda Putri to provide a sense of security for vulnerable workers.

The allocation for registrations, he said, has increased over the past three years, so vulnerable workers are also being registered as participants in the employment social security scheme.

“Subsidies for contributions for them are not limited to a few months, but are paid for a year,” he said.

Recipients of the programme, he said, come from various informal job groups, such as online scooter taxi drivers, construction labourers, pedicab operators, and daily casual labourers who have not yet registered as BPJS Ketenagakerjaan participants.

He explained that all contribution payments for these vulnerable workers are borne by the local government for a full year.

Through this programme, workers receive protection in the form of work accident cover and death benefits. In addition, the workers’ families also receive educational scholarships for their children if the participant suffers a work accident or dies.

“Children of participants in the employment social security are also funded if an accident occurs, by BPJS Ketenagakerjaan until completion,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Department of Social Affairs, Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control, and Family Planning Office (DINSOSP3AP2KB) Kudus Regency, Putut Winarno, noted that the budget allocated to register 30,344 vulnerable workers reaches Rp6.12 billion.

Besides being a commitment of the local government to help vulnerable workers obtain employment social security, he said, increasing the allocation for beneficiaries is also part of the effort to achieve Universal Coverage Jamsostek (UJC).