Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Anita Rachman – Youth organizations and labor unions appealed to the House of Representatives on Thursday to ensure the immediate passage of the controversial yet long-delayed bill on the Social Security Organizing Body.
If the government keeps delaying the bill known as the BPJS, which essentially aims to provide comprehensive social security, then the legislature should initiate an inquiry to find out why, the groups said.
They formalized their demand through a petition signed by Andi Jacob Nuwa Wea, chairman of the Confederation of All Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI), and Azis Syamsuddin, chairman of the Indonesian National Youth Organization (KNPI), an umbrella group for 82 youth organizations. Aziz is also a Golkar lawmaker and chairman of the House's legal affairs commission.
"We urge the House and the government to pay real attention to this legislation," Azis said. "If it's needed, the House should [invoke] its right to express an opinion or its right to an inquiry and question why the government is hampering [its passage]."
The BPJS, which some legislators are rushing to pass before the House goes into recess next week, is needed so that the provisions of the 2004 Law on the National Social Security System (SJSN) can be implemented.
The bill aims to merge four state firms already handling social security services. They are social security provider Jamsostek, civil service pension fund Taspen, military pension fund Asabri and health insurer Askes.
Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, a vocal supporter of the bill from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), urged citizens to hold a vigil in front of the House on July 22, the deadline for its passage.
"We must guard the process. If it's needed, let's break into the legislative building if the House and the government fails to pass the bill," she said.
Azis noted that Article 28H of the Constitution stated that citizens had a right to receive social security from the state.
KSPSI's Andi, meanwhile, criticized those who had been lobbying against the BPJS bill, including other trade unions led by former Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari, who on Wednesday called the measure "evil."
"If they're representing the poor, how can they reject the bill? It's so strange," Andi said. "They are accusing us of receiving money from foreign entities to finance our rallies. Please show us the evidence. We collected money from our members for the rallies."
Azis said he would send a letter to all provincial branches of the KNPI, asking them to "fight back against those opposing the BPJS bill. We have 82 youth organizations as members. We must fight the [critics]," he said.
Among Siti's allegations is that the bill would force citizens to pay a premium or else face penalties – a charge the government has vehemently denied. Siti also raised concerns about the lack of checks and balances for the new social security body that would be created by the bill.
The House and central government have been locked in debates over four scenarios regarding this merger.
The options are keeping the four companies independent, merging them all into the BPJS, maintaining the four entities while creating a new social security provider for the poor or preventing a merger while creating a new social security system for the long and short term.