BPJS Ketenagakerjaan partners with mosques and neighbourhood associations to protect informal workers
Jakarta (ANTARA) - BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is strengthening a community-based approach to expand employment social security protection for informal workers through collaboration with neighbourhood association leaders (RT/RW) and mosque communities.
BPJS Ketenagakerjaan Chief Executive Saiful Hidayat said in a statement on Monday that the community approach is being used to make social security services closer and more accessible to the public.
“Through this activity, we want to ensure that employment social security services are not only available at service offices, but also come directly into communities through an outreach approach so more workers can be protected,” Saiful said during a symbolic distribution of membership cards at Eramas 2000 Housing in East Jakarta on Sunday (8 March).
During the activity, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan also distributed death insurance benefits (JKM) of Rp42 million each to three beneficiaries of deceased participants.
Saiful explained that the community approach is an important strategy because many informal workers are located in nearby social environments such as neighbours, traders, and neighbourhood association leaders.
“Often without realising it, people around us are still vulnerable and not yet protected by employment social security programmes. Therefore, worker protection can begin from our immediate environment by reminding each other and encouraging more workers to be protected,” he said.
He added that communities such as RT/RW environments and mosque activities are important nodes in building shared awareness about the importance of social security protection for workers.
The JKM benefits were given to the heirs of the late Suswoyo from the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) of Duren Sawit District, the late Hadi Alamsyah, an RT/RW administrator in Pondok Kelapa sub-district, and the late Ratna, who worked as a trader.
Saiful also encouraged workers to take advantage of government policy providing contribution relief for non-wage earners (BPU).
“The government has provided a 50 percent contribution reduction for Work Injury Insurance and Death Insurance programmes for BPU participants through Government Regulation Number 50 of 2025. This momentum is expected to be utilised by workers to obtain protection with affordable contributions but significant benefits,” he said.
Meanwhile, East Jakarta Mayor M. Anwar appreciated BPJS Ketenagakerjaan’s step in partnering with community groups to expand worker protection.
“The East Jakarta Government has a moral responsibility to ensure its people are better protected in the future. We appreciate BPJS Ketenagakerjaan’s approach through communities such as mosques and RT/RW environments,” he said.
He hopes the collaboration can continue to be expanded so more workers are protected and community welfare increases.
The activity was attended by representatives of the East Jakarta City Government, the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan Supervisory Board, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan directors, community leaders, mosque administrators, and local RT and RW administrators.