Medan, North Sumatra (ANTARA) - Employment social security provider BPJS Ketenagakerjaan launched the "Sertakan" (Prosper Workers Around You) movement in North Sumatra, urging all workers, including informal workers, to participate in social security programs.

"Drivers, maids, vegetable sellers, and others can be included as members of Jamsostek (Employment Social Security)," said Asep Rahmat Suwanda, the company's Director of Finance, in Medan on Thursday.

He said that his company can simplify the process for informal workers to contribute to social security, similar to how easy it is to pay zakat.

"Let us prosper the workers around us because, with more workers participating in this national movement, universal coverage of Jamsostek can be achieved," he said, adding that if Jamsostek's universal coverage is achieved, so is the welfare of all Indonesian workers.

Suwanda praised the North Sumatra government's efforts to improve the welfare of workers with the support of the regional budget.

"The North Sumatra provincial government continues to improve protection and budget allocation for vulnerable workers. In the future, we hope that the coverage of social security protection for workers will increase," he remarked.

He also lauded the provincial government, which issued a circular and is committed to allocating the regional budget for the protection of workers.

As of March 2024, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan North Sumatra had disbursed benefits totaling Rp365 billion (around US$23 million) through several programs.

The disbursement of benefits from BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is expected to reduce poverty.

In North Sumatra, 10,000 vulnerable workers in 2022 were financially assisted by the regional budget allocation, 31,570 workers in 2023, and 41,570 workers in 2024.

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Translator: Juraidi, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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