Jamsostek helps dismissed workers

Jamsostek helps dismissed workers

JAKARTA (JP): About 260 dismissed workers in Bekasi received
Rp 52 million (US$6,000) in aid from state-owned PT Jamsostek to
help them survive during the economic crisis, a company official
said on Thursday.

"Jamsostek will never keep silent over workers who have been
dismissed due to the crisis. Even though the amount is small,
the aid is expected to be helpful for them," Yusuf Raden, the
firm's director of operations, said.

He said the aid was part of about Rp 4 billion set aside from
Jamsostek's profits this year to help some 20,000 dismissed
workers in Greater Jakarta.

The aid was aimed at enabling the jobless workers run petty
businesses, such as selling eggs or rice in traditional markets
in Bekasi, he said.

According to a 1998 decree issued by Minister of Manpower
Fahmi Idris, only dismissed workers who have participated in the
social security program are entitled to the aid and allowed to
take their pension funds from Jamsostek.

Alimin, the head of Jamsostek's Bekasi branch office, said
that his office had paid Rp 11.2 billion in pension funds to more
than 16,700 dismissed workers in the regency. (rms)