Staff Of The Minister Of Manpower Said Jokowi Already Knew The Contents Of The New JHT Regulation 56 Years Before It Was Ratified

President Jokowi and Minister Ida Fauziyah (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Kris)

JAKARTA - The new rules for old age insurance (JHT) in the Regulation of the Minister of Manpower (Permenaker) Number 2 of 2022 are still controversial. A number of workers rejected the JHT regulation that they could only be taken after 56 years of age.

The public questioned whether President Joko Widodo knew about the drafting of Permenaker No. 2 of 2022 before it was finally ratified and polemic. Responding to this, the Special Staff for the Minister of Manpower, Dita Indah Sari, said that Jokowi already knew.

"Definitely, yes (knowing about Permenaker Number 2 of 2022). All ministerial regulations. Especially in a situation like this. How come the President isn't listening?" said Dita in the Crosscheck discussion, Sunday, February 20.

Dita revealed, before the Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 2 of 2022 was promulgated, the Ministry of Manpower had reported the contents of this JHT regulation to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartato.

In addition, in the harmonization of regulations, the cabinet ranks have also held meetings to discuss the technical substance and legal aspects.

Thus, it is impossible for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and Coordinating Minister for Airlangga to not know and not report to Jokowi regarding the preparation of this regulation.

"In harmonization of all laws and regulations, there must be a ministerial meeting related to technical substance and for the legal aspects of the legislation with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights," said Dita.

"So, there will be no ministerial regulation that can pass if the Ministry of Law and Human Rights does not approve that this is in accordance with the rules above or below it. That is the procedure, all ministerial regulations are like that," he added.

As previously reported, the Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah issued a regulation related to the disbursement of JHT which can only be done at the age of 56 years. This is a polemic because in the previous regulation, JHT can be claimed after one month after the worker resigns from the workplace.

Regarding the polemic, Ida said that the newly issued regulation was in accordance with the recommendations and aspirations of various stakeholders, which encouraged the government to establish a policy to restore the JHT program in accordance with its function as mandated by Law no. 40 of 2004 concerning the National Social Security System.

According to the Minister of Manpower, the recommendation was based on, among other things, the Ministry of Manpower's hearing with Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives on September 28, 2021.

The working meeting was attended by institutional representatives from the National Social Security Council (DJSN), BPJS Employment Supervisory Board, BPJS Employment Directors, All-Indonesian Workers Union Management (SPSI), and All-Indonesian Trade Union Confederation Management (KSBSI).

The Minister of Manpower also said that Permenaker 2/2022 was the result of the main ideas of the Working Body of the National Tripartite Institution on November 18, 2021, with a discussion agenda regarding the amendment of the Minister of Manpower Regulation Number 19 of 2015 concerning Procedures and Requirements for Payment of Old Age Security Benefits.