Compact Entrepreneurs And Workers Reject Tapera Contributions

Chairman of Apindo Shinta W. Kamdani (Photo: Maria Trisnawati/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) and the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions have one vote against Government Regulation (PP) Number 21 of 2024 concerning Amendments to Government Regulation Number 25 of 2020 concerning the Implementation of Public Housing Savings (Tapera).

Just so you know, this regulation requires a pay cut for workers and employers of a total of 3 percent.

"Entrepreneurs and workers sometimes like to be different, but this time we are one," said Apindo Chairman Shinta W. Kamdani at a press conference in Jakarta, Friday, May 31.

Shinta said that in fact Apindo supports the government's good intentions in paying attention to workers' welfare by providing a decent home. However, the problem is that Tapera, which is a savings, is actually an additional contribution for workers and entrepreneurs. In fact, in BPJS Employment, it has provided the Benefits of Additional Services (MLT), one of which is relief in the form of bank interest which is lighter than other commercial interest on mortgage loans with a maximum house price of Rp. 500 million.

"We already have a social security program that covers people's housing.

Shinta said that the private sector and labor unions considered that there was a need for consideration from the government to review the PP and the Law which required employers and laborers to save in Tapera.

"If the name of the savings is voluntary, then it doesn't require employers and workers to import. Second, if ASN, TNI and Polri are because of the government's domain and want to run it, go ahead. Maybe this is useful. Monggo," explained Shinta.

Present on the same occasion, the President of the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions, Elly Rosita Silaban said that with the Jakarta UMP of IDR 5.06 million or IDR 126,000 per month, it is quite burdensome for workers who are required to save up to the age of 58 years.

"This fund is not small and we are 'forced' to save compulsoryly and it is like the principle of cross-subsidy mutual cooperation. How can the majority of workers who are labor-intensive contribute to those who are poor. Meanwhile, we ourselves are still poor," he said.

Moreover, he said, this savings cannot be accessed when needed, but only when he dies or is 58 years old.

He also questioned Tapera which overlapped with MLT BPJS Manpower, which is currently collected at IDR 160 trillion.

"Why not just maximize it? Indeed, the intention is for the community so that everyone has a house, but don't force it," he concluded.