Post-COVID-19 pandemic economic uncertainties are the main challenge of various countries, including IndonesiaJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged state officials to take necessary measures to protect vulnerable workers from the effects of the ongoing global economic uncertainty, an official of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) has said.
“The President does not want vulnerable workers, such as farmers, fishermen, non-state apparatus and contract employees, to fall into extreme poverty due to the current economic conditions," KSP expert staff Abraham Wirotomo stated on Wednesday.
He said that the government's effort to optimise the Employment Social Security (BPJS) system is to assure the protection of vulnerable workers.
"Post-COVID-19 pandemic economic uncertainties are the main challenge of various countries, including Indonesia. The government is working hard to provide social security to all workers, particularly those considered vulnerable," Wirotomo noted.
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He said that social security for employees has been adopted in the social welfare system of various developed countries.
"This social security system is important because, by 2045, Indonesia will face an ageing population, while the ratio of productive age will decrease, similar to Japan," Wirotomo remarked.
Wirotomo told that the Presidential Staff Office, the Cabinet Secretariat, and the Coordinating Ministry of Human Development and Cultural Affairs that they have monitored the implementation of social security programmes in various regions.
"According to our observation, the Central Java employment social security agency had disbursed Rp1.5 trillion (US$103.5 million) claims and handled 172,000 cases as of May this year. This feat must be followed by an increase in the participation rate," he added.
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Earlier, Presidential Staff Office's Deputy II Abetnego Tarigan encouraged workers employed in high-risk industries or vulnerable employees to participate in the Employment Social Security programme, which has been proven to benefit families of employees.
"This employment social security is to prevent the heir (of employees who passed away) from falling into poverty, as zero-extreme poverty is our ultimate hope," the deputy said.
Tarigan also urged regional authorities to be responsible for optimising BPJS membership in respective regions, including by ensuring complete membership coverage to all government employees.
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Translator: Indra Arief P, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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