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