Noise About The Tapera Program Cut Salaries, Airlangga: Needs To Be Seen The Benefits

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto (Photo: dock. Antara)

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto assessed that the Public Housing Savings (Tapera) program by cutting salaries needs to be studied and evaluated further.

Especially, continued Airlangga, regarding benefits, and benefits obtained by workers related to housing acquisition and for housing renovation.

"Tapera needs to be seen, maybe the benefits and of course what benefits can be obtained by workers," he said at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy Office, Wednesday, May 29.

Furthermore, Airlangga also asked the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) and the Ministry of Finance to conduct deeper socialization regarding the Tapera program.

"It must be explored again with socialization by the Ministry of PUPR and the Ministry of Finance," he explained.

For your information, the amount of savings for the Tapera program is 0.5 percent borne by the employer. Then, 2.5 percent of the workers are paid for is taken from the salary. This means that Tapera deposits will be paid by the employer and also the worker itself.

That way, the total amount to be allocated to Tapera is 3 percent. However, only 2.5 percent of the workers' salaries are deducted.

Previously reported, the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) rejected the Public Housing Savings (Tapera) program by cutting labor wages. If done, it will actually burden workers and the people. Therefore, the government is asked to review it.

KSPI resident Said Iqbal said that his party was in principle supporting housing programs for the people. This is because the need for housing for the working class and the people is a primary need as well as food and clothing needs (sandang, food, board).

"But the problem is, the current condition is not appropriate for the Tapera program to be run by the government by cutting wages for workers and Tapera participants. Because it burdens workers and the people," he said in an official statement, in Jakarta, Wednesday, May 29.

According to Iqbal, there are at least a number of reasons why the Tapera program has not been implemented properly at this time. First, there is no clarity regarding the Tapera program, especially regarding the certainty of whether workers and Tapera participants will automatically get a home after joining the Tapera program. If forced, this could harm workers and Tapera participants.

"Physically healthy and mathematical calculations, Tapera contributions of 3 percent (paid by employers 0.5 percent and paid by workers 2.5 percent) will not be sufficient for workers to buy a house at retirement age or when laid off," he said.

Currently, continued Iqbal, the average wage for Indonesian workers is Rp. 3.5 million per month. If it is deducted by 3 percent per month, the contribution is around Rp. 105,000 per month or Rp. 1,260,000 per year. Because Tapera is a social Savings, within 10 years to 20 years, the collected money is Rp. 12,600,000. to Rp. 25,200,000.

"The big question is, is there a house price of Rp. 12.6 million or Rp. 25.2 million in the next 20 years? Even if there is an added business profit from the Tapera social savings, the collected money will not be possible for workers to own a house," he said.

So, continued Iqbal, with 3 percent contribution, what aims to make workers have a house is the mere possibility for workers and Tapera participants to own a house. "It's already a burden on the wages of workers every month, in retirement or when they are laid off, they also can't own a house," said Iqbal.