Jakarta. BPJS Watch Advocacy Coordinator, Timboel Siregar, suggested a shift in the controversial Housing Savings Fund (Tapera) program from mandatory to voluntary participation, particularly targeting private sector employees, state-owned enterprises (BUMN), and regional-owned enterprises (BUMD).

However, for civil servants and military/police personnel funded by the state budget, participation would remain compulsory.

"I propose that the mandatory participation of private sector employees, BUMN, and BUMD in Tapera be changed to voluntary. This means that companies willing to participate in Tapera may do so, but those unwilling should also be allowed," said Timboel Siregar in Jakarta on Thursday.

President Joko "Jokowi" recently signed Government Regulation (PP) Number 21 of 2024 concerning the national housing scheme. This regulation mandates a 3 percent salary deduction from state and private employees and freelancers, with employers bearing 0.5 percent and employees bearing 2.5 percent.

Participants of Tapera can benefit from long-term housing loans, including mortgage loans (KPR), house construction loans (KBR), and house renovation loans (KRR) with terms up to 30 years and fixed interest rates below market rates.

Timboel said individuals opting out of Tapera could leverage the Additional Benefit Service (MLT) program, providing housing financing facilities to participants of the Old-Age Security program (JHT) by workers' security agency BPJS Ketenagakerjaan.

Timboel urged the government to reassess the Tapera Law, particularly regarding the voluntary participation of formal workers, BUMN, and BUMD.

"The government should prioritize meeting the housing needs of civil servants (ASN) and independent citizens, including the poor," he emphasized.

He also recommended that the Manpower Ministry revise the Regulation on Procedures, Requirements, and Types of Additional Benefit Services in the Old-Age Security Program, especially concerning the interest rate provisions for workers receiving housing benefits.

Chairman of the Indonesian Housing and Settlement Developers Association (Apersi), Junaidi Abdillah, suggested Tapera could contribute to alleviating the housing backlog, although not as the primary solution. 

Junaidi explained that Tapera contributions are the government's effort to assist low-income households (MBR) in obtaining housing. He emphasized the importance of community effort due to the limited state budget, requiring participation from all parties.

However, he expressed concerns about the insufficient dissemination of Tapera regulations, highlighting the need for extensive public awareness campaigns, particularly by the government.

Acknowledging public concerns, President Jokowi likened the Tapera policy to the initial public reaction to the implementation of the national health insurance scheme BPJS Kesehatan, suggesting that acceptance may grow over time as with previous policies.

In Indonesia, the current backlog stands at 9.9 million, marking a 17.52 percent decrease from 12.75 million. The challenge lies in Indonesia's requirement for up to 800,000 new houses annually, while the existing capacity can only accommodate around 500,000.