Jamsostek spends Rp 149.9b on improving workers' welfare

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

State-owned insurance company PT Jamsostek spent more than Rp 149.9 billion (US$16.6 million) in 2002 to provide financial aid and develop social infrastructure in industrial zones to help improve workers' welfare.

The president of PT Jamsostek, A. Djunaidi, said that Jamsostek developed 12 four-story, low-cost apartments worth Rp 53.45 billion to accommodate more than 2,200 workers in industrial bonded zones in Batam, Riau.

"Jamsostek also disbursed a total of Rp 44.6 billion for the down payment of housing credits to more than 10,300 workers employed in 312 companies in industrial zones in Batam, Jakarta, Tangerang and Surabaya, and we will continue to extend such financial schemes to empower workers in years to come," Djunaidi said. He spoke on the sidelines as he paid a sum of Rp 1 billion in occupational accident insurance to an executive of a pulp and paper mill here on Tuesday.

Besides receiving occupational accident insurance, relatives of PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) General Manager Budiman, who recently died of a stroke at work, also obtained pension funds worth Rp 68 million from Jamsostek.

Djunaidi said that Jamsostek provided a further Rp 21 billion in financial aid for health clinics at 256 companies and Rp 16.6 billion to rehabilitate 112 public health centers across the country.

"We have distributed 39 ambulances worth Rp 4.71 billion to public heath centers," he said.

He said that Jamsostek not only distributed aid towards education, but also provided financial assistance to dismissed workers and to workers who had been laid off.

"We provided a total of Rp 9.10 billion in scholarships to more than 16,600 children of workers employed in more than 2,000 companies, and paid Rp 8.20 billion to 41,000 workers who were dismissed or laid off for various reasons," he said. According to the 2000 ministerial decree, workers who were dismissed after being employed for more than five years have the right to obtain compensation from Jamsostek.

Djunaidi explained that the funds which were used to improve the social welfare of workers and their families (DPKP) were allocated from the company's 2001 dividend, which should be paid to the government as its main stakeholder.

He acknowledged that Jamsostek, in coordination with the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, was planning to set up hospitals especially for workers in certain regions. The first workers' hospital would be developed in the industrial area of Karawang in Bekasi, West Java.

Jamsostek, which was established to provide social security for workers as stipulated by Law No. 3/1992 on social security, has paid a total of Rp 6.4 trillion in the occupational accident (JKK), pension funds (JHT), life insurance (JK) and health care programs (JPK).

Jamsostek has forged a cooperation with state and private hospitals in cities and regencies across the country to establish trauma centers, such as health clinics, to provide health services for workers who have met with accidents in the workplace.

"So far, we have established trauma centers in Semarang, Sleman (Yogyakarta), Palembang (South Sumatra), Ujung Berung and Cimahi (both in West Java), Surabaya, Kediri and Jakarta, and all our trauma centers have received ISO 9001 certification."