Jamsostek scandal

Jamsostek scandal

From Media Indonesia

Workers' Social Security (Jamsostek) is identical to labor contribution fees (and those of employers) to guarantee social security for workers when needed. Therefore, whatever is regulated in the Jamsostek Law, it is only proper that some of the funds are returned to workers right now, not when they retire or when there employment is terminated. The refund could be in the form of loans for very low-cost houses at lenient terms.

It is difficult to understand that when workers need loans they must go to banks, while at the same time Jamsostek provides financial assistance (in cash, collected from workers' contribution fees) to banks, which grant loans to workers.

Other greatly exasperating things with respect to the Jamsostek funds are as follows:

1. There have been rumors in coffee shops for quite some time that the job of the government is to entertain legislators so that the bill tabled may get unhindered approval. Now these rumors have proved to be correct. However, the use of funds originating from workers' "sweat, blood and tears" to get a bill ratified by the House of Representatives is indeed inhumane.

2. The statement made by manpower minister Abdul Latief, who trivializes the use of these workers' funds, shows that, seemingly, he can be "played with" in the same way as he "plays with" house members.

3. The statement made by the president director of Jamsostek that Rp 7.1 billion or Rp 3.1 billion is nothing compared with the assets of Jamsostek, valued at some Rp 6 trillion, shows how arrogant and unprofessional this official is. The factor of "where the money comes from" seems to be set aside.

4. Considering that members of the board of commissioners of Jamsostek, as the shareholders' representatives, have approved the allocation of the funds, laymen can only guess what they have done in order that they may secure this position.

5. What about the FSPSI (the federation of associations of workers' unions)? As the leaders were also involved in the "discussion" of the manpower bill, workers will never hear any statement in defense of their fate.

If some government officials, legislators and leaders of FSPSI are "in collusion", it is impossible that this scandal can be dealt with transparently. Therefore, the only way out is to ask independent and professional public auditors, who are still "uncontaminated", to openly audit the utilization of the funds.

The fees for these auditors may come from the money contributed by the common people through, for example, "a donation for the manpower bill" in Media Indonesia.

TOTO PRAWOTO

Jakarta