PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Bandung City Government is encouraging the expansion of social security for informal workers, which covers around 60 percent of the workforce in Bandung City.

Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan conveyed these efforts while attending the 2026 Prime Partners Gathering of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan at the Bandung Suci Branch Office, Thursday (22/10/2026).

Farhan believes that informal workers need access to protection because they do not have permanent employment status and contracts like formal workers.

"We must communicate or provide benefits to informal workers through the BPJS Employment program. This is a challenge, because formal workers have clear, defined status, and contracts. For informal workers, this doesn't exist," said Farhan.

According to Farhan, the targets of protection are not only low-income workers, but also freelancers in the creative and digital industries.

This group includes broadcasters, presenters, editors, content creators, and influencers who have irregular work patterns and incomes.

Farhan believes that joint contribution and cross-subsidy schemes can be an alternative to expanding access to protection according to workers' abilities.

"These are huge opportunities. Why am I highlighting this in Bandung? Because Bandung is a creative city. Many people start their careers and thrive in these positions," he said.

To reach the community directly, Farhan opened up the opportunity to introduce BPJS Employment in the Disaster Preparedness Neighborhood Security (Siskamling) activities that reached 151 sub-districts.

Through this activity, officers are expected to be able to explain the benefits and access to social security participation to neighborhood association administrators and the local community.

"I've been touring 151 sub-districts in Bandung City. I always say, 'I've been touring with BPJS Kesehatan. I want to invite BPJS Ketenagakerjaan to go with me, called the Disaster Alert Neighborhood Security System,'" Farhan said.

This regional approach is expected to help informal workers obtain information and access protection that suits their needs.

Protection of Vulnerable Workers

Head of the Bandung City Manpower Office, Yayan Ahmad Brilyana, said expanding protection for vulnerable workers still requires support from various parties.

Groups that need attention include domestic workers, construction workers, night workers, and online motorcycle taxi drivers.

"The ones who are a bit worrying are our informal workers. I'll ask our colleagues for help in discussions. Of the 60 percent who need to be protected, only 40 percent have been covered," Yayan said.

Yayan urged the government, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, and the business world to expand the scope of protection so that workers have a safety net when they experience work accidents.

He also assessed that budget support and corporate social responsibility (CSR) could help finance the contributions of vulnerable workers.

"We received orders from the Mayor to protect the people of Bandung City as much as possible," he said.

Businesses Support Worker Protection

Ahmad Kosim Asmari, Head of the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) in Bandung City, stated that the business world can contribute through corporate social responsibility programs to help the communities around their business environments.

"It was also mentioned earlier that regarding CSR, perhaps all of these companies provide CSR, but in different forms. However, all of them are for the benefit of the surrounding area," said Ahmad.

Ahmad hopes that the meeting between BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and business actors will open up opportunities for beneficial collaboration for workers and the community.

During the event, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan also symbolically handed over compensation to the families of employees who died while working or on their way to work.

By expanding access to participation and providing cross-sector support, the Bandung City Government hopes that more informal and vulnerable workers will be protected from the risks of workplace accidents and the loss of a breadwinner.

(Bandung City Communications and Information Service/bhf)