Kala Jaminan Sosial Jadi Penolong di Tengah Hempasan Badai PHK

“Could I possibly borrow some money?” Nugraha—not his real name—recalls this agonizing question he had to ask friends after being hit by an unexpected layoff (PHK). This 31-year-old man from Boyolali, who had worked for five years and held permanent employee status at a private company in Jakarta, admitted he was initially disoriented by the sudden turn of events.

Without any emergency funds prepared, Nugraha was forced to borrow money from various sources just to survive in Jakarta. Fortunately, a former colleague eventually informed him about BPJS Jamsostek programs, such as the Old Age Security (JHT) and Job Loss Security (JKP).

“My office friend told me I could withdraw money from BPJS as a safeguard, so I’d have transit money and waiting money,” Nugraha told Katadata.co.id on Thursday, November 27. This information offered him a much-needed sigh of relief.

Realizing that a portion of his salary during his employment had been set aside for BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, Nugraha promptly applied for a payout through BPJS Jamsostek. He described the process as remarkably swift, with funds reaching his account in approximately one week.

The application involved simply filling out data, uploading necessary documents, and undergoing a brief online interview via the Jamsostek Mobile (JMO) application. During the interview, he noted that officials primarily inquired about his identity and the reason for his claim. “It was easy, the money was disbursed quickly. It’s good, in my opinion. Not complicated at all to get the money,” Nugraha affirmed.

From his five years of work, Nugraha received approximately IDR 22 million. This vital fund sustained him during his job search, and he has since successfully secured new employment. During five months without an income, he judiciously used the funds to cover rent, food, and even continued sending money to his parents in his hometown, as his family was unaware of his layoff.

Thousands of Workers Face Job Loss

Nugraha’s predicament is far from unique. Across Indonesia, thousands of workers have faced similar fates due to corporate efficiency measures. Data from the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) reveals that from January to October 2025, a staggering 70,244 workers were impacted by layoffs. In October alone, 1,180 individuals lost their jobs.

Focusing on DKI Jakarta, the capital experienced its own wave of job terminations during the same period, affecting 5,149 workers. The largest surge in layoffs in Jakarta occurred in May 2025, with 762 workers losing employment, followed closely by February 2025, which saw 754 workers added to the layoff list.

Timboel Siregar, Coordinator of BPJS Watch Advocacy and an expert in Social Security and Manpower, emphasizes that laid-off workers are rightfully entitled to the Job Loss Security (JKP) program. This vital program offers three significant benefits.

First, beneficiaries receive cash assistance equivalent to 60% of their wages, capped at IDR 5 million per month, for up to six months. This, combined with access to training and labor market information, means JKP can provide crucial monthly income support, helping layoff victims maintain their purchasing power while actively seeking new employment.

“While they are searching for work, this can help layoff victims sustain their purchasing power,” Timboel told Katadata.co.id on Friday, November 28, highlighting the program’s immediate impact.

Second, workers must be continually encouraged to re-enter the job market through robust training and skill enhancement programs. Timboel stressed the importance of strengthening these training initiatives to ensure workers are well-prepared for new employment opportunities. He also underscored that these efforts must be coupled with creating more job opportunities and fostering a better investment climate to attract more investors and generate more formal employment.

“Currently, the informal sector has a higher number; it’s good to open up job opportunities in the informal sector,” Timboel Siregar added, acknowledging the growing importance of this segment.

Third, Timboel highlighted the critical need to ensure informal sector workers receive comprehensive protection. This includes fair wages, full social security coverage, occupational health and safety (K3) protection, and clear working hours. He advocated for government intervention through the State Budget (APBN) to provide informal workers with work accident security, death security, old age security, and other essential protections.

He further asserted that the government must implement several key measures: stimulating job creation, curbing the rate of layoffs, expanding participation in the Job Loss Security (JKP) program, and actively educating and encouraging laid-off workers to engage in training and utilize available labor market information.

As of September 2025, the number of active participants registered under BPJS Ketenagakerjaan reached an impressive 42 million individuals, while 20.66 million were recorded as non-active participants. This extensive coverage encompasses various social protection programs, including Work Accident Security (JKK), Death Security (JKm), Old Age Security (JHT), Pension Security (JP), and Job Loss Security (JKP). Notably, by September 2025, Jakarta emerged as the province with the highest number of active BPJS Ketenagakerjaan participants nationwide, totaling 7.86 million people, or 19% of the total participants.

Furthermore, according to Ministry of Manpower data, 855,023 companies were registered as active BPJS Ketenagakerjaan participants in the third quarter, specifically July 2025. This figure reflects a consistent upward trend, as participating companies in this social security program have increased for four consecutive months since April 2025.

JHT Claims Surge Amid Layoffs

In line with the rising incidence of layoffs, claims for Old Age Security (JHT) have also seen a notable increase. Erfan Kurniawan, Deputy of Communication at BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, reported that the organization disbursed JHT benefits to 3.2 million workers by the end of October 2025, marking a 22% year-on-year increase. The total value of these payouts reached a substantial IDR 47.5 trillion.

Kurniawan assured that the JHT payout process remains both swift and secure, particularly through digital channels such as the Jamsostek Mobile application. To further facilitate participants, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan offers various official channels for submitting Old Age Security claims.

Participants with JHT balances below IDR 15 million who have updated their data can file claims directly through the Jamsostek Mobile (JMO) app. Conversely, those with JHT balances exceeding IDR 15 million can process their withdrawals through physical branch offices or via LAPAK ASIK (Contactless Service) on the official BPJS Ketenagakerjaan website. “BPJS Ketenagakerjaan urges all participants to leverage the convenience of the official services provided and to avoid using any form of intermediary services, as these pose risks to personal data security,” Erfan advised Katadata.co.id on Friday, November 28.

It is important to reiterate that BPJS Ketenagakerjaan offers a comprehensive suite of social protection programs, encompassing Work Accident Security (JKK), Death Security (JKm), Old Age Security (JHT), Pension Security (JP), and Job Loss Security (JKP).

Expanding Social Security Coverage

Given the substantial benefits offered, extending the reach of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan membership is imperative. Ogi Prastomiyono, Chief Executive of the OJK’s Supervisory Authority for Insurance, Guarantees, and Pension Funds, stated that BPJS Ketenagakerjaan’s total assets reached IDR 888.96 trillion by September 2025, with the majority originating from formal sector participants.

“Even so, the potential from the informal worker segment remains enormous because approximately 58% of the total workforce in Indonesia operates in the informal sector,” Ogi emphasized in a written statement quoted on Saturday, November 29. This highlights a significant untapped demographic for social security protection.

In parallel, Erfan Kurniawan, Deputy of Communication at BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, acknowledged that achieving Universal Coverage for Jamsostek cannot be accomplished by BPJS Ketenagakerjaan alone. He affirmed that the institution is continuously strengthening collaborations with both government bodies and private companies to broaden membership coverage effectively.

“Together with central and regional governments, we are advocating for the integration of social security programs into regulations, licensing, and various poverty alleviation initiatives, thereby ensuring more workers are protected,” Erfan explained. This integrated approach aims to create a more robust safety net for the workforce.

He further elaborated that BPJS Ketenagakerjaan also partners with various companies to ensure all eligible workers are registered according to regulations. This effort extends to expanding protection for vulnerable workers through diverse corporate social responsibility initiatives, fostering a collective commitment to employee welfare.

Through such synergies, Erfan stated, membership expansion can be conducted more massively, measurably, and sustainably, ensuring a greater number of workers are shielded from the risks that may arise throughout their careers.

Furthermore, he underscored BPJS Ketenagakerjaan’s ongoing commitment to enhancing participant literacy through educational initiatives. This strategic move aims to ensure that the public understands Old Age Security (JHT) as a long-term protection designed for future financial security, rather than merely an emergency fund to be accessed in the event of a layoff.

These literacy efforts are implemented through digital campaigns, direct outreach, and robust collaboration with companies and the government. BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is also proactively promoting social security awareness from an early age within the education system. Since 2024, the “Social Security Content Module” socialization has been conducted in 11 regions, reaching 233 high schools and vocational schools (SMA/SMK/MA).

According to Erfan, ideally, awareness regarding the importance of social security should be cultivated starting from elementary school. This foundational understanding would enable younger generations to grasp, from the outset, that every worker—whether in the formal or informal sector—is entitled to protection against various occupational risks.

“With a strong foundation of literacy from an early age, society will be better prepared and more conscious of the significance of employment social security as an integral part of their journey towards life prosperity,” Erfan concluded, emphasizing the long-term vision for a socially secure populace.