Indonesia to Launch Job Loss Benefits Program

TheIndonesia.id - President Joko Widodo will launch the Job Loss Benefit Program (JKP), as a scheme to strengthen social protection for workers affected by layoffs. Spokesperson for Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, Masduki Baidlowi, stated in Jakarta, Monday, February 21, 2022.

JKP is a program from the Ministry of Manpower for workers who have experienced termination of employment (PHK), complementing the benefits of the Old Age Protection (JHT). "Regarding JKP and JHT, this is a JKP program at BPJS (Social Health Insurance Administration Body). God willing, tomorrow (Tuesday, February 22) the President will launch the plan," said Masduki Baidlowi in a statement received by Antara.

Basically, he continued, the JKP program is a strengthening of social protection schemes for workers who have lost their jobs or have been laid off, where JKP contributions are subsidized by the government. "So, workers are not burdened with new contributions. BPJS participants automatically join the JKP Program," he explained. He also invited all parties to look forward to the inauguration of the program.

Minister of Manpower Regulation (Permenaker) Number 2 of 2022 concerning Procedures and Requirements for Payment of JHT Benefits has drawn a polemic among the public, relating to the terms or conditions that JHT funds can only be obtained when BPJS Ketenagakerjaan participants are 56 years old.

In this regard, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said the JHT regulated in Permenaker Number 2 of 2022 is actually a form of government attention to workers when they enter old age. Moeldoko asked the public to see the spirit of the provisions in the Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 2 of 2022, which wants to restore the main function of the JHT program, as a guarantee for people in their post-productive age.

If workers are worried about being laid off before entering the age of JHT disbursement, said Moeldolo, then the Government has prepared a JKP Program.