Bali Provincial Government Funds BPJS Employment for Interfaith Religious Leaders

Bali Governor Wayan Koster has given special attention to all religious leaders, clergymen, and clergywomen in Bali to obtain employment social security. Wayan Koster has provided Social Security support through BPJS Employment for Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic, Confucian, and Christian religious leaders across all regencies and cities in Bali without exception. This means all religious leaders who have dedicated themselves unconditionally to the interests of religious communities in Bali are given attention to receive BPJS Employment. Koster believes that in carrying out various religious services, these religious leaders have done so sincerely and selflessly. Therefore, the government is obliged to guarantee and provide employment social security.

Head of BPJS Employment for the Bali, Nusa Tenggara, and Papua Regional Office, I Nyoman Suarja, confirmed the existence of employment social security from the Bali Provincial Government for religious leaders of all faiths in Bali. “This Social Security programme for Religious Leaders has received full support from the Bali Semesta Berencana Regional Budget since 2023 and continues into the 2026 Fiscal Year. This year, 16,794 religious leaders in Bali are recorded as active BPJS Employment participants and are paid for by the Bali Provincial Government,” he said.

He added that religious leaders who are still actively registered with BPJS Employment will receive social protection benefits, including Work Accident Insurance (JKK) and Death Insurance (JKM). “But whatever the case, we still pray that the religious leaders are given safety and long life,” he said. If a work accident occurs, BPJS Employment will fully cover treatment at a partner hospital until the patient recovers completely. If a participant dies, BPJS Employment will provide a death benefit. He added that there is also a scholarship programme if an active participant dies but still has school-age children.

Governor Wayan Koster said he has asked the Bali Provincial Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources Office to continue collecting data on religious leaders across Bali. The data must be updated with accurate sources from villages and sub-districts so that this social programme can truly provide assistance or relief to religious leaders. “This is a very populist programme, where religious leaders have a very noble role in praying for the safety of nature and all of us in Bali,” said Wayan Koster on Thursday (22/7).

Head of the Bali Provincial Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources Office, Ida Bagus Setiawan, reported that data collection on religious leaders is carried out continuously, every year, precisely every November, the BPJS Employment Social Security data for religious leaders is updated in accordance with applicable regulations. In the meeting, the Bali Governor and the Head of BPJS Employment for the Bali, Nusa Tenggara, and Papua Regional Office also discussed three other social protection programmes, including Old Age Security for religious leaders (still under review), a Draft Governor Regulation on the Protection of Vulnerable Workers such as Farmers and Fishermen (still under review), and the Data Collection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) in Bali through a one-door system managed by the Regional Government to ensure the state’s presence in providing social protection.