PORTALJABAR, BEKASI REGENCY - Bekasi Regency Government strengthens its commitment to improving the welfare of workers through strategic cooperation with the Social Security Administering Agency (BPJS) Employment. This collaboration aims to expand social security protection for workers, both in the formal and informal sectors, in order to create a safer and more sustainable employment system.

This step was marked in the Bincang Santai (Bisa) activity entitled "Improve the Welfare of Bekasi Regency Workers Through the Additional Service Benefit Program (MLT) and Job Loss Insurance (JKP)" which was held at the Wibawa Mukti Building, Bekasi Regency Government Complex, Central Cikarang, Tuesday (4/22/2025). The event was attended by the Regent of Bekasi, Deputy Regent (Wabup) of Bekasi Asep Surya Atmaja, representatives of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, labor unions, and elements of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda).

In the event, the Regency Government symbolically handed over compensation and social security assistance totaling Rp1.1 billion to the heirs and active participants of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan from the Bekasi Cikarang Branch Office. Deputy Regent Asep said that the benefits of this program are still not fully known by the public.

One of the compensations was given to the heirs of the late Syarifudin, an informal sector worker, with a total value of IDR 105 million. The compensation consists of Death Benefit (JKM) of IDR 42 million and a scholarship for one child worth IDR 63 million. In addition, the highest compensation of IDR 795.19 million was given to the heirs of the late Agus Ramadan, a worker of PT Enkei Indonesia. This compensation includes Work Accident Insurance (JKK), Old Age Security (JHT), Pension Security (JP), and child scholarships.

The Bekasi Regency Government also provided Additional Service Benefits (MLT) assistance in the form of a home renovation loan worth IDR 200 million to Yasin Zaenuri, an employee of PT Multichem Indojasa Artaprima.

In his speech, the Deputy Regent emphasized that this social protection does not only target formal sector workers, but also informal sector workers through regional financing schemes, including the use of village budgets. Currently, the Regency Government is preparing a circular to all villages and sub-districts to allocate a budget for the registration of informal workers as BPJS Ketenagakerjaan participants.

"In the village there is a budget that can be used to protect informal workers. This program is very helpful because it covers work accidents, death, retirement, job loss, and old age. The government must be present to facilitate this," he explained.

Head of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan Bekasi Cikarang Branch, Muhyiddin, reported that as of March 2025, as many as 492,000 workers had become active participants. This number consists of wage earners, non-wage earners, and the construction services sector, including 21,000 non-state civil servant (non-ASN) workers who are government partners.

In the same period, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan has paid claims worth Rp219 billion for various social protection programs. In addition, scholarships worth Rp5 billion have been distributed to children of workers who are at risk of work accidents or death.

Muhyiddin also appreciated the support of the Bekasi Regency Government, including the issuance of the Regent's Decree (SK) on social protection for village officials to administrators of neighborhood units and residents' associations (RT/RW). Currently, his party is combing around 19,000 additional people to be registered as participants immediately.

With continued collaboration, it is hoped that all workers in Bekasi Regency can obtain comprehensive social security rights. This effort is an important part of building an inclusive employment ecosystem and supporting sustainable regional economic growth. (Diskominfosantik Kab. Bekasi/Fau)