"I am optimistic that the bill will be passed into law in the near future," the coordinating minister said here on Sunday.
The minister made the remarks in response to the demand of workers who took to streets to observe International Labor Day or May Day on Sunday.
Agung said that a number of crucial items in the RUU BPJS had been settled. "At present, the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) have shared similar views over the bill," he added.
"The government will in the near future take new materials or inventory of new materials to the DPR," the senior minister said.
He said that there were eight ministries assigned by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to settle the RUU BPJS problem.
They included the ministry of finance, the office of the coordinating minister for the people`s welfare, national development planning agency (Bappenas), manpower and transmigration ministry and other ministries.
"A team of representatives of eight ministries is now taking stock of or make an inventory of new matters so that we believe that it would not face significant problems in the future," Agung said.
For that purpose, the minister expressed hope that it would serve as a good news for workers who were demanding for the enactment of the RUU BPJS on May Day.
Thousands of workers in mass rallies held long marches from the Hotel Indonesia roundabout to the State Place at 10 am on Sunday.
They demanded the passing into law of the bill. Workers need the enactment of the RUU BPJS as a legal instrument to implement five insurance programs stipulated in Law No. 40 / 2004.(*)
(A014/H-NG /a014 )
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
