Jakarta. Social security agency BPJS Ketenagakerjaan recently handed compensation money to the families of 44 poll workers who died during their course of duty.

The state insurer also compensated poll workers who got into accidents while on duty.

“About 44 poll workers have received BPJS Ketenagakerjaan compensation money which is worth Rp 2.57 billion,” BPJS Ketenagakerjaan president director Anggoro Eko Cahyo said at a ceremony where he symbolically handed the compensation at the Cultural Affairs Coordinating Ministry in Jakarta on Tuesday.

“We would like to extend our sincere condolences. We will never be able to replace those who have left us, but at least this compensation money shows that the country is taking responsibility, especially to their children, by giving them scholarships until university,” Anggoro said.

According to Anggoro, all poll workers are covered by the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan program.

The ceremony saw BPJS Ketenagakerjaan handing over the compensation money to 3 families. One of the beneficiaries was Teguh Joko Pratikno. It had only been a day since Teguh joined the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan. The man died on the job. Teguh’s heir received Rp 254 million in compensation money. This package includes work accident insurance, as well as scholarships for Teguh’s two children, which will cover the kids’ education from kindergarten to university.

As of Feb. 26, about 1.1 million workers at the General Election Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) are BPJS Ketenagakerjaan participants.

“This is a breakthrough compared to previous elections. Election workers at the time did not get any insurance, be it work accident or death insurance. Starting in this 2024 election, the ad hoc election workers will get employment social security,” Chief Cultural Affairs Minister Muhadjir Effendy.

Abetnego Tarigan, a deputy at the presidential staff office, said: “Social protection is necessary to prevent people from falling into poverty if anything happens.”