Social security benefits should pave the way to economic independence for working families
Minister of Manpower Yassierli emphasized that social security for workers should not merely provide protection when risks arise.
The benefits received by workers and their families should be supplemented with support, enabling them to build capital for recovery and achieve economic independence.
LATEST NEWS: North Sumatra Provincial Government Strengthens Universal Health Coverage in West Nias Through Collaboration
The Minister of Manpower made these remarks during the soft launch of the national program “Value Beyond Protection: Economic Empowerment and Independence” (PEKA), organized by the Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) in Bandung.
The Minister expressed his appreciation for the PEKA initiative, which expands the scope of social security benefits from simple compensation to support that delivers a lasting impact on workers and their families.
“We appreciate this initiative. BPJS Ketenagakerjaan does not merely provide money or compensation but also ensures that the funds are utilized in a sustainable manner,” the Minister stated.
According to the Minister, beneficiaries receiving social security payouts are expected to use the funds not only to meet immediate needs but also as capital to establish or develop productive businesses.
LATEST NEWS: Special promotions from Telkomsel in honor of Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day
In this way, workers’ families gain the opportunity to lead more independent lives while potentially creating jobs for others.
The Minister of Manpower noted that this approach to economic empowerment aligns with the Ministry’s experience with various programs, including the Independent Workers Program (TKM).
This program has reached hundreds of thousands of people, and this year, the Ministry of Manpower aims to provide capital support to 10,000 individuals. The Ministry of Manpower, he continued, also possesses profiles of 1,000 successful TKM programs that can serve as learning and reference points for developing economic empowerment initiatives.
“We already have the modules in place, so our colleagues at BPJS Ketenagakerjaan simply need to follow the guidelines we have established; there is no need to reinvent the wheel,” the minister stated.
The minister believes that the synergy between PEKA and the empowerment ecosystem established by the Ministry of Manpower can amplify the impact of social security benefits.
Collaboration is essential so that the various programs run by the government and stakeholders can complement one another, ensuring that the benefits received by the community extend beyond just a single stage of intervention.
“After all, the answer to every employment-related challenge is collaboration, collaboration, and more collaboration,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Saiful Hidayat, President Director of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, explained that PEKA was developed to add value to the benefits received by the heirs of workers.
This program connects beneficiaries with various training opportunities and business development support, enabling social security benefits to serve as capital for economic recovery and self-reliance.
LATEST NEWS: Controversy surrounding Tanjungpura carnival judging results: HAMBE seeks clarification from the jury
Following a pilot phase, PEKA entered its implementation stage in early July. Simultaneous implementation activities took place across 37 provinces and 41 locations, involving over 1,400 participants. In total, 2,736 participants have completed the training.
The program goes beyond training, offering financial and marketing support to empower participants to build successful businesses. ***REL
