Dismissed workers get pension fund

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The state-owned social security insurance company, PT Jamsostek, has paid Rp 2.48 billion in pension funds to more than 4,600 dismissed workers in the province.

"There is no reason for us not to extend our service to those who have already lost their employment. On the contrary, we want them to obtain their rights and we are ready to give our best," Antara news agency quoted Tjipto Rahadi, chief of the Jamsostek branch office in Banjarmasin, as saying here on Wednesday.

The government has recently allowed dismissed workers whose participation in the social security program was less than five years to claim their pension funds to help them survive the crisis.

Tjipto said that for the past nine months, the company also paid Rp 1.08 billion in compensation to 872 workers who suffered job-related injuries and Rp 99 million to heirs of 83 workers who died in on-the-job accidents. (edt)