Jakarta (ANTARA) - Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah issued Regulation of the Manpower Minister (Permenaker) Number 4 of 2023 on Social Security for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) to improve protection and services for PMI.
Fauziyah explained that the regulation included several additional social security benefits for workers involved in work-related accidents, those who died, or stopped working due to old age, as quoted from a statement on Friday.
"The issuance of this Permenaker shows the concern of the government (to provide social security) for the migrant workers that have the same (amount of) contributions but with increased benefits," she remarked.
She pointed out that there was no increase in the amount of contribution for work accident insurance (JKK) and death compensation (JKM) programs.
In detail, the PMI will pay Rp37,500 (US$2.44) before starting their work. Meanwhile, the amount of the remaining contribution will be paid according to their working agreement period.
The PMI are required to pay Rp108,000 (US$7.04) if they have a six-month working agreement; Rp189,000 (US$12.31) for a 12-month working agreement; and Rp332,500 (US$21.66) for a 24-month working agreement.
If the term of the work agreement is more than 24 months, the workers have to pay Rp13,500 (US$0.88) per additional month.
"Likewise, the amount of JHT (pension insurance) contributions does not change. It is in accordance with the choice of each prospective PMI between Rp50,000 (US$3.26) to Rp600,000 (US$39.09)," the minister remarked.
According to Permenaker Number 4 of 2023, the benefits of the social security program for PMI were increased to cover 21 work risks, from the previous 14 work risks included in the Permenaker Number 18 of 2018 concerning Social Security for PMI, she stated.
Benefits of the JKK program include health services; compensation fund; as well as mentoring and vocational training for PMI or PMI candidates, who suffer from partial anatomical and/or functional disabilities due to work-related accidents.
Meanwhile, benefits of the JKM program comprise death compensation; periodic compensation; funeral expenses; as well as educational or training scholarships.
In addition, new benefits of the social security programs are included in the Permenaker, such as financial assistance for prospective migrant workers or migrant workers who experience physical violence and/or were raped.
Furthermore, the government will provide reimbursement of ticket fees for PMI, who are placed not in accordance with the agreement; financial assistance to PMI dismissed unilaterally; and medical expenses assistance reaching a maximum of Rp50 million (US$3,257) for PMI, who experienced work accidents.
"Through the issuance of Permenaker Number 4 of 2023, which presents three employment security programs, namely JKK, JKM, and JHT, the PMI can get complete social security since before (working), during (their working period), and until after (their working agreement ends)," Fauziyah explained.
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