Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has officially enacted Law Number 3 of 2024 concerning Villages. Among several policies outlined in the legislation, a key provision established by the government is the provision of social security protection for village chiefs, village officials, and members of the Village Consultative Board (BPD).

In response to the enactment, the Directorate General of Village Governance of the Home Affairs Ministry, in collaboration with the Workers' Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan), conducted a dissemination session for all provincial and district/city governments, held in Jakarta on Thursday.

Home Affairs Minister, represented by Acting Secretary General Tomsi Tohir, said that this initiative aligns with President Joko Widodo's vision to develop Indonesia from its peripheries, particularly by strengthening villages across the country.

The pivotal role of villages in supporting national economic growth prompted the government to take concrete steps to enhance the welfare of all workers, especially those in rural areas. He highlighted the significant benefits of social security programs and urged all attending local governments to provide social security protection to all officials and residents in accordance with the mandate stipulated in the law.

"I truly hope to share prosperity with our friends in the villages, including village officials and residents," he said.

"It is indeed the government's responsibility to continuously strive to improve the welfare of its people through existing social protection measures," he added.

During the discussions held as part of the event, the Director General of Village Governance of the Ministry, La Ode Ahmad P. Bolombo, emphasized the preparation of government regulations and other operational instruments to ensure the prompt implementation of this workers' social security program.

"One of our main goals in making these revisions is to ensure that this protection reaches every village," he stressed.

In line with this, the Director of Participant Affairs of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, Zainudin, expressed appreciation for the government's commitment to protecting the welfare of rural workers. Zainudin added that there are two Presidential Instructions (Inpres) closely related to social security protection, namely Inpres Number 2 of 2021 and Inpres Number 4 of 2022 concerning the Acceleration of Extreme Poverty Eradication.

"We greatly appreciate the detailed emphasis on the importance of workers' social security protection in this new Village Law. This program is crucial as it is a constitutional mandate and a strategic national program to support national resilience," explained Zainudin.

Furthermore, Zainudin mentioned that workers' social security protection can serve as a tool to prevent and reduce poverty and ensure the continuity of education for future generations through scholarship benefits.

According to data, as of now, there are 1.7 million participants in BPJS Ketenagakerjaan for the non-civil servant sector at the village and neighborhood levels, and 547,000 vulnerable workers in villages. Meanwhile, looking at the national labor structure, there are 61.47 million informal workers employed in villages, indicating a vast potential workforce that needs protection under BPJS Ketenagakerjaan.

Zainudin added that BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is currently focused on enhancing social security protection through collaboration with the Home Affairs Ministry for village governance protection. Additionally, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, together with other ministries/agencies, continues to advocate for worker protection within market ecosystems, including modern and traditional markets, e-commerce and small and medium enterprises ecosystems, and vulnerable worker ecosystems such as informal workers, poor workers, and those unable to afford.

In terms of benefits, throughout 2023, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan has disbursed 1.91 million claims for all workers in villages, totaling benefits amounting to Rp19.06 trillion. Zainudin stated that BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is ready to synergize with all local governments to ensure prosperous and worry-free workers.

"With the enactment of this new Village Law, let us all work together to implement this excellent program in the remotest villages. One of the functions of social security is to elevate the dignity and welfare of workers and their families," concluded Zainudin.

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