The Number Of Informal Workers Is Predicted To Increase Because Of Avoiding The Tapera Program

Illustration. (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) predicts that the number of informal sector workers will increase. This is due to the implementation of Government Regulation (PP) Number 25 of 2020 concerning Public Housing Savings or PP Tapera.

Senior Economist Indef Aviliani said that due to the implementation of the Tapera regulation which is mandatory for all Indonesian workers, it encourages workers to avoid bills that are deemed burdensome.

Aviliani assessed that the application of the Tapera program was carried out at an inappropriate time in the midst of the threat of an economic crisis due to the outbreak of COVID-19. What's more, the previous government also increased BPJS Health contributions.

"There is a tendency for people to avoid a lot. The informal sector is not necessarily billed formally. For example BPJS Health, the informal sector does not necessarily have BPJS Kesehatan even though it is mandatory," he said, in a virtual discussion, Friday, June 12.

Furthermore, Avilinai assessed that the high number of informal workers would have an impact on the minimum welfare of workers in this sector. This is because the number of informal workers who have special abilities is less than informal workers who do not have the ability.

Additional Burden from COVID-19

Not only that, Aviliani said, this condition was exacerbated by the absence of a bright spot for handling the COVID-19 outbreak by the government. As a result, the burden that must be paid by the company will also increase with the mandatory rules for the Tapera program.

"Do not let this become an informal sector that is getting higher but not getting more prosperous. We all want the informal sector to be higher but welfare is getting better," he said.

As is known, President Joko Widodo issued Government Regulation (PP) Number 25 of 2020 concerning the Implementation of Public Housing Savings (Tapera). In this regulation, all workers are required to take part in the Tapera program. However, only those with a maximum income of IDR 8 million can apply for a house purchase.

The implementation of the community housing savings (Tapera) will be implemented in stages starting in 2021. The first phase in 2021, the obligation of the Tapera dues will apply to civil servants, police and soldiers. The second stage, the contribution obligation applies to BUMN employees and the last is private companies and independent participants.

Tapera contributions are collected at 3 percent of total salary, with details of 0.5 percent borne by the employer and 2.5 percent borne by workers who are deducted from wages. Especially for independent participants, the fees are paid by themselves.

Participation in BP Tapera will end if the worker has retired, namely the age of 58 years. Later, after retiring, participants can get their savings and proceeds from development funds that are placed in bank deposits, government debt securities, and other investments.