The Response Of The 56 Years JHT Material Test To MA, Minister Of Manpower Ida Fauziyah: Part Of The Dynamics Of Democracy

Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah in Deddy Corbuzier's Podcast dialogue in South Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA/HO-Kemnaker)

JAKARTA - The government respects the judicial review of the Regulation of the Minister of Manpower Number 2 of 2022 concerning Procedures and Requirements for Payment of Old Age Security Benefits (JHT) to the Supreme Court (MA). This material test is part of the dynamics of democracy.

"The government respects the effort to judicially review Permenaker 2/2022 because it is part of the dynamics of democracy," said the Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Ida Fauziyah in a statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Friday, February 18.

The Minister of Manpower explained that the latest regulation on JHT has been promulgated, so the Ministry of Manpower has a constitutional obligation to implement it until the Supreme Court decides otherwise.

The implementation of the Permenaker which took effect on May 4, 2022, is not for the benefit of the government or BPJS Ketenagakerjaan but rather to strengthen the implementation of the JHT Program so that the benefits are felt optimally by workers.

Regarding concerns about whether JHT benefit funds are still available when participants enter the age of 56 according to the new rules, he explained that based on the BPJS Law, the management of funds in BPJS, including investments, is supervised by external and internal supervisors.

External supervisors such as the National Social Security Council (DJSN), the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK). While internally there is a Supervisory Board consisting of elements of workers, employers, experts and the government as well as an internal supervisory unit.

The Minister of Manpower ensures that JHT funds will not be used by the government and remain safe and managed transparently using the precautionary principle by providing competitive returns. That is, at least equal to the average counter rate deposit interest of a government-owned bank.

"It's not true (used by the government). JHT funds remain the rights of workers and can be taken when they reach the age of 56 with very simple document requirements, namely ID cards or other proof of identity and BPJS Employment participant cards," he said.

Not only that, JHT funds can be partially withdrawn even though they are not yet 56 years old, provided that they have met a minimum of 10 years of membership. The funds that can be taken are 30 percent for home ownership or 10 percent for other purposes in preparation for retirement.