Having Frequent Meetings With The Minister Of Manpower, Commission IX: Minister Ida Never Discussed JHT Can Only Be Disbursed At 56 Years Old

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the DPR RI, Saleh Daulay, revealed that the Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Ida Fauziyah never consulted with the DPR RI before issuing the Minister of Manpower Regulation (Permenaker) Number 2 of 2022 concerning Procedures and Requirements for Payment of Old Age Security Benefits (JHT).

He said Commission IX of the DPR RI only found out about the Permenaker after it was widely discussed by the public. There was no notification whatsoever regarding the new rule.

"When we were born, we weren't consulted first. At least we were told that there would be a Permenaker, this doesn't exist yet," Saleh said in a virtual discussion on Saturday, February 19.

According to him, in several work meetings held by Commission IX of the DPR RI with the Minister of Manpower, there were discussions about improving the welfare of workers and laborers. However, Ida, continued Saleh, never mentioned the issuance of Pemernaker Number 2 of 2022 regarding JHT.

"We have never discussed specifically regarding the issuance of the Permenaker plan, which says it is specific, namely JHT can only be taken at the age of 56 years. This does not actually exist," said Saleh.

"Because if it existed, my language would have been crowded before. Because our meetings with the Ministry of Manpower are open, because it will definitely be heard by the public. There wasn't that time," he added.

Apart from not consulting with the DPR RI, Saleh also received information that workers who joined the tripartite with the government, employers and trade unions were also not involved.

Saleh said, policies regarding wages and workers' welfare should be discussed in this tripartite.

"But I heard, according to their confession (the workers, ed) have not been involved. Let alone the DPR, the workers who must be included in the tripartite according to their confession have not been included in the discussion," said Saleh.

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 recommendations were based on, among other things, the Ministry of Manpower's hearing meeting with Commission IX of the DPR RI 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 Workers Union Managers. Indonesia (SPSI), and the Management of the All-Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSBSI).

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