Members Of The House Of Representatives Commission IX Ask Jokowi To Summon The Minister Of Manpower Regarding The JHT Polemic

JAKARTA - House of Representatives Commission IX member Saleh Daulay asked President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to summon the Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Ida Fauziyah.

The summons is related to the polemic caused by the Regulation of the Minister of Manpower (Permenaker) Number 2 of 2022 concerning Procedures and Requirements for Payment of Old Age Security Benefits (JHT).

"I think the President summoned his ministers, the Minister of Manpower. Then he asked for an explanation of what actually happened in the field, what was the underlying reason why fellow workers and trade unions rejected this Permenaker," Saleh said in a virtual discussion, Saturday, February 19.

Saleh said that the Minister of Manpower had to provide an objective explanation to President Jokowi on what was the basis for the Minister of Manpower Regulation Number 2 of 2022 which was rejected by many people, especially by labor groups.

"But of course it must be objective, yes, the explanation," he said.

In addition to summoning the Minister of Manpower, President Jokowi can also invite related parties, such as BPJS Employment, labor representatives, and the wage council. After that, then look for the best solution that can be offered.

"The important thing is that the President has a valid reference, a valid reference to take productive steps to work on," said Saleh.

According to this PAN politician, the Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 2 of 2022 should be the President's attention. Because, some parties say that the Permenaker contradicts Government Regulation (PP) Number 60 of 2015 concerning Amendments to PP Number 46 of 2015 concerning the Implementation of the Old Age Security Program.

He explained, if there are still questions about the rules above the Ministerial Regulations, then it is already the area of the president's authority.

"In this case, of course, the president must also be involved. It's impossible not to be involved," he said.

Saleh said his party could grant the request of some parties to revise the law. However, he reminded, revising the product of legislation is not easy, especially when it comes to manpower.

Therefore, the easiest way is for Jokowi to call his ministers and ask for an explanation of the problem. "It's not easy to revise the law. Moreover, the law related to employment is definitely not easy to be revised, it's definitely not easy. It will take a while," he explained.

"Therefore, of course the easiest thing is the attention of the President related to this issue. So what, so that later this can all be seated together," added 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 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.