Thousands of workers left unprotected in W. Java
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon
Of more than 1,270 companies employing a total of 95,000 workers in the West Java regencies of Cirebon, Indramayu, Majalengka and Kuningan, only 40 percent have participated in the obligatory social security programs, an official says.
"Sixty percent of the private companies have yet to register their employees in the social security programs, despite continued campaigning by PT Jamsostek, a state-owned company running the programs," Swasana Dwi Saputra, chief of Jamsostek's local office, said here on Monday.
Swasana said most of the 900 handicraft companies, which employed more than 50,000 workers in the region, had yet to register their workers in the social security insurance schemes.
"We have asked the local manpower and transmigration office to enforce the 1992 law on social security but, so far, no companies violating the law have been brought to court," he said.
He said Jamsostek had no authority to enforce but officers of the local manpower and transmigration office in their capacity as civil servants had the investigative authority to charge violating companies.
"Besides, workers in the region have yet to be made aware of their rights for labor protection as it is stipulated by the law," he said.
According to the law, private- and state-owned companies employing ten workers or more, or paying salaries totaling Rp 1 million or more, are obliged to participate in the social security programs. Companies contribute around four percent to the programs while workers contribute around three percent of their monthly gross salaries. The social security programs comprise of health care, occupational accidents, death and pension schemes.
Yoyon Suharyono, chairman of the Foundation for Workers and Environment, said he was concerned with the absence of social security programs for the handicraft companies's workers because most companies had exported their products.
"Most handicraft businessmen have gained a huge annual profit from their businesses but a major part of their workers have been left unprotected in the basic labor insurance programs," he said.
Adjat Sudradjat, chief of Jamsostek's claim affairs section in the region, said Jamsostek paid a total of Rp 6.1 billion claims for workers participating in the programs during 2001.
"A major part of it (Rp 3.8 billion) was paid for workers entering their mandatory pension age," he said.
Adjat said his company would enhance cooperation with public health centers in the region to provide medication and health care services for workers participating in the social security programs.
"Such cooperation is much needed to provide health care service to workers and their families," he said.