Labour unions demand no additional contribution costs in the JKN Presidential Regulation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Labour and worker unions have requested that the drafting of the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) on National Health Insurance (JKN) does not include additional contribution costs for participants.

Chairman of the National Workers’ Union (SPN), Iwan Kusman, affirmed that his side had identified a number of problems with the proposed changes to the JKN policy, particularly relating to a potential decline in services and the emergence of additional costs for participants.

“The first concerns the decline in services, which is a problem, and the second is that there must be no additional costs because all participants already pay,” said Iwan during an audience with the National Social Security Council (DJSN) in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Iwan stated that the unions had also not received any socialisation regarding the draft JKN Presidential Regulation, which is said to have been progressing at the Ministry of State Secretariat (Setneg), even though, in his view, the regulatory harmonisation process must ensure that all relevant elements and institutions are involved.

The labour unions believe that a well-intentioned policy can still create problems if its formation process is not carried out in accordance with the rules, given that the policy changes could make it harder for workers to access services, particularly inpatient beds.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the General Policy Commission of the DJSN, Royanto Purba, assured that the government is listening to aspirations and input regarding developments in the JKN policy, including the drafting of the Presidential Regulation.

“As an institution with the function of formulating general policy and synchronising the administration of the National Social Security System (SJSN), the DJSN views stakeholder participation as one of the key inputs in ensuring that the development of the JKN policy remains oriented towards the interests of participants, improved service quality, and programme sustainability,” said Royanto.