Minister Proposes Rebranding 'Scavengers' as 'Waste Sorting Workers'
Environment Minister Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat has proposed replacing the term ‘pemulung’ (scavenger) with ‘waste sorting worker’. He is pushing for these workers to be given formal competency standards.
This was conveyed by Jumhur during the launch of social protection for Indonesia’s informal waste sector at the Rorotan RDF facility in North Jakarta on Monday (10/8/2026). The event was also attended by Manpower Minister Yassierli and Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung.
Jumhur stated that waste sorting workers play a vital role in the waste management system. They are on the front lines, sorting waste before it enters processing facilities.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I will not speak at length because we have our fellow waste sorting workers here, thank you. If possible, Professor Yassierli, let us replace the term ‘pemulung’ with ‘waste sorting workers’,” Jumhur said in his speech.
He hopes that the competence of waste sorting workers can be formalised through the National Work Competency Standards (SKKNI). “Hopefully the SKKNI can be implemented, and they are meritorious because they are on the front line, sorting, and that is the most basic step before entering places like this,” he said.
Jumhur referred to waste sorting workers as ‘green collar workers’. According to him, they make a significant contribution to waste management from the most basic level. “So we call them green collar workers,” he added.
Meanwhile, Manpower Minister Yassierli stated that informal workers in the waste sector face the risk of workplace accidents and therefore need protection. Workers receive a 50 percent discount on contributions for workplace accident insurance (JKK) and death insurance (JKM). With this discount, the monthly contribution drops from Rp 16,800 to Rp 8,400.
“Friends receive a 50 percent discount on workplace accident insurance and death insurance contributions. The original contribution amount was Rp 16,800, now it is Rp 8,400 per month,” Yassierli said.