We want fishermen across all of Riau Islands to receive protection because their job has a high risk, thus the worst-case scenario can be anticipated if it occurs.
Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (ANTARA) - The Riau Islands provincial government has allocated a budget of Rp3.47 billion or US$228,876 to provide insurance coverage to 17,209 local fishermen through the State-Owned Social Security Agency (BPJAMSOSTEK).

"The manpower social insurance aid program for fishermen in all of Riau Islands will be distributed immediately in 2023," head of the Riau Islands Marine Affairs and Fishery Office Said Sudrajat Nazlan informed here on Saturday.

He said that several conditions have been laid down for beneficiaries, including the fact that the aid will be prioritized for those who have never received social insurance aid.

Moreover, the maximum age of the recipients will have to be 65 as of December 2022.

The BPJAMSOSTEK aid is also intended for small or traditional fishermen who either use fishing vessels with a maximum weight of 5 gross tonnage (GT) or do not use fishing vessels.

"In addition, they do not use fishing equipments that are banned based on the regulation," he said.

The BPJAMSOSTEK facility will be valid for a year. After it expires, fishermen can extend the coverage period on their own.

According to Nazlan, BPJAMSOSTEK is very important because it provides insurance against the risk of death and any work accidents that individual fishermen could experience.

The budget allocation of US$228,876 for 17,209 fishermen from the provincial government constitutes 50 percent of the collective financing scheme between the provincial and district/city governments.

"We want fishermen across all of Riau Islands to receive protection because their job has a high risk, thus the worst-case scenario can be anticipated if it occurs," Nazlan said.

Meanwhile, the Maluku branch of BPJAMSOSTEK is targeting fishermen in Mamala village, Central Maluku district, for information dissemination concerning the benefits of the manpower social insurance program.


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Translator: Ogen, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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