Labor Asks The Minister Of Manpower To Revoke Regulations On JHT Disbursement Can Only Be Done When Participants Are 56 Years Old: Ida Fauziyah Only Resigns If You Can't Protect Workers

Indonesian Minister of Manpower, Ida Fauziyah. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Manpower)

JAKARTA - The SBPI Federation (United Indonesian Labor Union) asked the Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Ida Fauziyah to revoke Permenaker No. 2/2022 Regarding the Disbursement of JHT aka Old Age Security which stipulates that disbursement can only be made when the participant is 56 years old.

"Of course the policy of the Minister of Manpower No. 2 of 2022 regarding the disbursement of JHT which stipulates that disbursement can only be done at the age of 56, makes workers even more squeezed. Moreover, wages have only increased by 1.09 percent and even in Central Java it has increased by only 0.78 percent, less than 1 percent and the number of layoffs due to the pandemic," said General Chairperson of the SBPI Federation, Dian Septi Trisnanti, in a written statement, Saturday, February 12.

According to Dian, in conditions of declining worker welfare, the existence of JHT has become a kind of fund that can be relied upon when faced with economic difficulties. Not infrequently when layoffs occur, JHT funds become a mainstay for workers to meet the daily needs of their families when they are unemployed or have not found work.

"If the government is serious about providing social security for workers and their families, then there should be fulfillment of a decent wage according to real needs, a minimum wage that meets the basic real needs of workers, guaranteeing job security (no contracts/outsourcing), providing facilities for workers and their families such as daycare for workers' children, decent work, cheap and quality education, cheap and quality adequate health, without the privatization of wealth assets that meet the needs of many people and social security that really guarantees old age for all informal and formal workers," he explained.

Because of this, the SBPI Federation demands that Ida Fauziyah stop issuing policies that make workers and their families miserable. He asked Ida to revoke the Permenaker.

"Or yes, as usual, we will carry out mass mobilization actions as well as online actions (offline and online actions). It is better for Ida Fauziyah to resign if she cannot protect workers. Take the Trimurti Decree, the first labor minister who really sided with the workers.

Previously, Ida Fauziyah stipulates that the payment of old-age benefits or JHT can only be disbursed when the BPJS Employment participant is 56 years old.

The decision is contained in the Minister of Manpower Regulation Number 2/2022 concerning Procedures and Requirements for Payment of Old Age Security Benefits which was ratified on February 4, 2022. "The benefits of JHT for participants who reach retirement age as referred to in Article 2 letter a are given to participants upon reaching 56 years old," said the Minister of Manpower Ida in the Ministerial Regulation, quoted Friday, February 11.

JHT benefits for participants who reach retirement age also include participants who stop working. Participants who stop working, include workers who resign, are affected by termination of employment, and those who leave Indonesia for good.

"In addition to retirement age, JHT benefits are also paid to participants who experience permanent total disability or die. JHT benefits for participants with permanent total disability are given to participants who experience permanent total disability before reaching retirement age," said Ida.

Meanwhile, JHT benefits for participants who die are given to the participant's heirs. Previously, Ida's decision drew the spotlight of netizens on Twitter. The Recruiter Account @mas_recruiter asked the Ministry of Manpower together with BPJS Employment to provide information regarding the disbursement of JHT benefits which is set at the age of 56 years.

"If they are laid off, they are not yet 56 years old, there are economic difficulties, there is no savings, the waiting period for them to die is just liquid, it's crazy!" tweeted Recruiter.