West Java Targets 10 Million Informal Workers for BPJS Employment Social Security
Bandung (ANTARA) - The West Java Provincial Government is targeting the expansion of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (social security) membership for the informal sector and vulnerable workers to reach 10 million people, serving as a tactical instrument to break the cycle of extreme poverty in the region.
The focus of this social security expansion targets the informal segment that has not yet been touched by mandatory regulations, unlike health insurance, which is already legally binding.
“While BPJS Kesehatan (health insurance) is already a statutory obligation, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is not yet mandatory by law. Therefore, we will work on what is not yet a legal requirement,” said Dedi Mulyadi in a statement in Bandung on Friday.
“If all the people of West Java—excluding the military, police, SOE employees, civil servants, and corporate employees who are not covered by employment insurance—are protected, then there will no longer be poverty in West Java,” Dedi added.
To realise this target, the West Java Provincial Government will gradually increase social security budget allocations in accordance with regional fiscal capacity, relying on cross-sector synergy ranging from the provincial and district/city levels to village governments.
“For example, this year we aim for one million; hopefully, in the future, it can reach two or three million. Ultimately, we aim for 10 million,” he said.
This commitment was also revealed during an appreciation event for BPJS Ketenagakerjaan beneficiaries at the Pakuan Building complex, Bandung, on Thursday (18/6), where BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and the West Java Provincial Government distributed benefits totalling Rp49.3 billion to 1,515 participants.
Dedi shared several real-life cases in the field where this instrument successfully saved citizens’ economies from bankruptcy following work-related accidents.
One such case involved a construction worker who passed away and received compensation of Rp42 million after all medical expenses were fully covered by the insurance system. Another highlighted case was a resident who survived after being run over by a container truck.
“I met a man who was involved in an accident after being run over by a container; his hospital costs of Rp4t42 million were all paid by BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, plus he received a monthly allowance of Rp1 million while unable to work after his hospital discharge,” said Dedi.
Responding to this commitment, the Director of Human Capital and General Affairs of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, Harjono Siswanto, expressed high appreciation for the acceleration of the Universal Coverage Jamsostek (UCJ) achievement in West Java, which he believes deserves to be a national model.
BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is committed to strengthening regional collaboration through various schemes, including options for financing subsidies from local governments to secure the most vulnerable groups of workers.
“We continue to collaborate and synergise between the provincial government, district/city governments, and the regional branches of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan to expand worker protection, including through subsidies from local governments. We are optimistic that this good practice will soon be replicated in various regions outside West Java,” he said.