Workers not aware of new insurance scheme
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief found yesterday during snap inspections at two companies in East Jakarta that the workers were unaware of the newly-introduced insurance program, Jamsostek.
The new program, which is more comprehensive than the old one called Astek, has a higher premium.
During the inspections, which caught the managements of the two private companies by surprise, the minister found that most workers were unfamiliar with their rights as well as the regional minimum wage amount.
Latief also found that even though the workers of PT Traktor Nusantara and PT Dyno Indria, both located in the Pulogadung Industrial Estate, still kept Astek insurance cards, they had not received membership cards from the new insurance program.
When asked by the minister whether he had received a new card, Timbul Darma, an employee of the PT Traktor Nusantara, said "No sir, I don't know what Jamsostek is all about".
Timbul told Latief he had been working in the tractor assembling plant for four years and that his monthly salary was Rp 160,000 (US$72), which the minister said meets the regulation on the regional minimum salary of Rp 4.600 ($2) per day.
Accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Jakarta Military Command Mutiyoso and Col. Pamudji from the Jakarta Police, the minister then proceeded to the nearby PT Dyno Indria, a glue producing company.
Here Latief found that Jamsostek insurance cards had not been distributed to the 360 employees because they were still being processed by the company's personnel department.
"Have you had Astek cards?" Latief asked worker Siti Musarifah, who had been working there for eight years and was receiving a monthly salary of Rp 150,000.
"I don't have a card, sir," the woman answered.
The minister requested that the company distribute the cards soon. He also called on the management to inform the workers about Jamsostek.
"Basically, the two companies have carried out their duties but the administrative work should be improved," Latief said.
The minister told the management of PT Dyno Indria and reporters that his ministry welcomes any worker wishing to register a complaint about the way an employer handles an employee's rights.
"We urged them to do so and we will pay their transportation fee," he said.
By law private companies are required to provide their workers with social security cards. They may face a maximum fine of Rp 50 million or six months imprisonment for breaking or ignoring the law.
The premium each company pays for insurance was increased when PT Astek, the state-owned workers' insurance company, changed its scheme from Astek to Jamsostek recently.
Reports said that since the premium increased many companies have been reluctant to pay.
Data from the Ministry of Manpower says that there are now 48 companies being legally processed for breaking the law.
"In December we will announce all their names," the minister said. (03/rms)