Prof. Dr. Phil. Janianton Damanik, observer of Social Development and Welfare in Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada, urged the Government and the House of Representatives to immediately pass the Bill of Social Security Administering Agency (BPJS). This is due to the consideration that tens of millions of Indonesian people could lose their social rights due to the negligence of the state in providing social security. In addition, millions of people have to fall into poverty due to illness, not protected by a feasible social security which should become the responsibility of the state.
"The drag out in the validation of the Bill will also further strengthen the belief among various elements of society that the government is not serious in implementing social protection for citizens. If this happens, the state has failed in providing social protection for its citizens," said Janianton in his speech in the 54th Anniversary of the Department of Social Development and Welfare of Faculty of Social Political Sciences on Friday (29/7).
He added, the protracted debate on the Bill needs to be stopped, because the longer it takes to endorse the bill, the longer the people suffer from poverty. "There should be the will from the government to put first the interests of the people," he said.
He gave an example that the government’s proposal to form two BPJS has to be followed by the adjustment of the BJPS in status quo to the principles of the BPJS that is produced by Act No. 40 of 2004 on National Social Security System. The safety zone has to be able to change the social security policy from the pro-political interests to pro-humanitarian benefit and from the pro-capitalist to pro-community. On the other hand, the House of Representatives also has to give way not to impose BPJS in a single bill, but will consistently apply the principles of the National Social Security System in BPJS governance.
Janianton Damanik also noted the difficulties in the negotiation between the government and the House of Representatives’ Special Committee which is not free from conflict of interest related to the authority of social security fund management. In fact, the issue of BPJS institutional transformation would potentially displace the authority of one party and gives a distinct advantage for the other party.
He said the government that was represented by the Ministry of SOEs is the institution that more strongly rejects the imposition of the BJPS Bill that emphasizes on institutional transformation of the current four BJPS. "This reaction is logical, considering that if the four limited companies are united, the government will certainly lose a role in the management of hundreds of trillions rupiah that go into the limited companies," he said.
While the elite in the House of Representatives who has vigorously struggled for the BJPS Bill ratification, said Damanik, is assumed to have more or the same interest in terms of opening opportunities to develop influence within the institutional structure of the new BPJS. "It is feared that BPJS in the future will become the new single vehicle that becomes a tool for mobilizing funds for political party interests," he concluded.