Central Java Nominated for 2026 Jamsostek Award for Strengthening Worker Protection
The nomination recognises the Central Java Provincial Government’s ongoing efforts to expand social security coverage for informal-sector workers through stronger regulations, budget allocations and cross-sector collaboration.
Central Java Deputy Governor Taj Yasin Maimoen stressed that protection against workplace accident risks should not be limited to formal-sector workers. Informal workers also need insurance so they are protected when they face risks while doing their jobs.
“Workplace accidents do not affect only people working in the formal sector; we also need to protect members of our community in the informal sector,” Taj Yasin said in a statement on Thursday (15 October 2026).
He made the remarks before the central assessment team at the Pullman hotel in Jakarta. Taj Yasin represented Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi in presenting the provincial government’s efforts to extend worker protection.
The Central Java Provincial Government has provided employment social security to religious teachers of different faiths through an incentive programme that includes BPJS Ketenagakerjaan membership.
“Thank God, through these collaborations, we have been given the opportunity to present the worker protection measures in place in Central Java,” he said.
Taj Yasin said he hoped the collaborations would continue to develop so that more workers could receive protection. He also praised BPJS Ketenagakerjaan for its efforts to protect the public.
Central Java and Yogyakarta BPJS Ketenagakerjaan Regional Office head Cahyaning Indriasari said the Jamsostek Award assesses local governments’ efforts to broaden employment social security coverage, or Universal Coverage Jamsostek.
She said coverage in Central Java rose from 36 per cent in 2024 to 39 per cent in 2025. The increase was supported by provincial and local regulations, as well as protection programmes for vulnerable workers.
One programme in focus provides coverage for religious teachers from various faiths. It has been running since 2023 and covers around 230,000 teachers.
Central Java provincial government data show that 230,830 religious teachers of different faiths received incentives in 2025. The programme also provides employment social security coverage.
Protection has also been extended to agricultural workers through the use of the Tobacco Excise Revenue Sharing Fund (DBHCHT). In 2025, around 13,017 tobacco farmers, other farmers and farm labourers were covered by the programme.
Cahyaning said, however, that extending protection to informal workers remained a shared challenge. Of the approximately 19 million workers in Central Java, most are informal workers and not all are enrolled with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan.
“Central Java still has a considerable gap, particularly among informal-sector workers. Around 60 per cent of our workforce is informal, including farmers, fishers and others,” she said.
To extend coverage, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and the Central Java Provincial Government will strengthen collaboration with regency and municipal governments, businesses, academics and village administrations.
Two initiatives being prepared to support the effort are Garwo Surgo and Ngopeni Ngelakoni Desa. They are intended to strengthen mutual cooperation in expanding enrolment, including through business participation and the establishment of village-based social security outreach agents.
Cahyaning said workers covered through their employers were expected to encourage family members working in the informal sector to enrol independently.
“Through this mutual cooperation, we hope to increase coverage among informal workers in Central Java,” she said.
Cahyaning expressed hope that the policies, budget support and innovations introduced would help Central Java achieve a strong result at the 2026 Jamsostek Award.
“My target is for Central Java to make the top three. The provincial government has demonstrated a great deal of goodwill,” she said.
As well as the Central Java Provincial Government, Salatiga-based company PT Selalu Cinta Indonesia has also been nominated for the 2026 Jamsostek Award.