Jakarta. The workers’ security agency BPJS Ketenagakerjaan and the state-owned housing firm Perum Perumnas recently inked a memorandum of understanding. 

Under this partnership, the two firms seek to help provide proper housing for workers, while also addressing Indonesia’s housing backlog which has reached 12 million houses as of last August. Roswita Nilakurnia, the director for services at BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, said the partnership would enable workers to easily access affordable, proper housing. BPJS’ additional service benefits --also known by its acronym MLT-- can give employees access to housing financing facilities with lower interest compared to commercial interest, namely BI repo rate + max 5 percent. MLT BPJS Ketenagakerjaan provides various facilities from housing down payment loans of a maximum of Rp 150 million, housing renovation loans of up to Rp 200 million, home ownership credit of a maximum of Rp 500 million, as well as construction credit for developers.

“Through this MLT program, we hope that we can contribute significantly to boost prosperity and social protection for all BPJS Ketenagakerjaan participants,” Roswita was quoted as saying in a recent press statement. 

BPJS Ketenagakerjaan has distributed MLT for 4,438 houses with the benefits worth totaling Rp 1.19 trillion.

Perum Perumnas’ marketing director Imelda Alini Pohan said that everyone need to work together to make sure that employees can have proper housing.

“It should be the responsibility for the state-owned enterprises and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan to do so. Employees will be able to work comfortably, thus boosting their productivity. They will be able to better contribute to the companies,” Imelda said.