Employees Gather! JHT Still Can't Be Disbursed Before 56 Years, Government Proposes JKP, Want?

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government, through the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartarto, responded to the 'outrage' that occurred in the community regarding the decision to disburse Old Age Security (JHT) at the age of 56 for BPJS Employment participants.

"We convey that on February 2, the government issued the Minister of Manpower Regulation Number 2 of 2022 regarding the procedures and requirements for payment of Old Age Security Benefits," he said during a virtual press conference on Monday, February 14.

According to Airlangga, JHT is actually a protection for workers or workers for the long term.

"In relation to the main policy, Old Age Security is designed as a long-term program to provide certainty of the availability of funds for workers when they are no longer productive due to retirement age or permanent total disability or death," he said.

Although it is designed to provide financial protection during retirement, the previous JHT can be disbursed by workers when affected by termination of employment (PHK) or resignation. However, after the Decree of the Minister of Manpower Number 2 of 2022, the disbursement of funds can only be carried out when the participant is 56 years old.

Instead, the government plans to launch a Job Loss Guarantee (JKP) program. Through this scheme, participants will still receive income gradually in the next few months after they are no longer working. In addition, participants will be directed to improve skills through an official government program (Pre-Employment Card).

In detail, Airlangga explained that for participants earning IDR 5 million per month who have paid dues for two years, the JHT amount is 5.7 percent of salary, which is IDR 6.84 million for 24 months.

From this JHT amount, the government developed a 5 percent system of JHT funds which then amounted to Rp. 7.18 million.

Now, with the JKP, workers will immediately receive cash of 45 percent of their monthly wages for the next three months after not working anymore.

Then, from the fourth to the sixth month, workers will still get 25 percent of their salary if they have not worked.

From the six-month scheme of JKP, participants get a total of Rp. 10.5 million. So when compared with JHT savings will be greater.

It should be noted that this scheme applies to companies that regularly pay mandatory contributions from their participants. Then participants who do not have arrears in contributions, join the BPJS Health and Employment program.

The results of the JHT fund itself are different for each person depending on the period of service. If any of the requirements are not met, the participant cannot take part in the JKP program.