TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) president director, Fachmi Idris, admitted that a total of 2,348 companies manipulated data of employees’ salary so they could pay the premium lower than they should do.

“They report incorrect wage amount. But the number likely lower than the total number of registered workers,” said Fachmi in the Parliament complex, Senayan, Monday, September 2.

Fachmi asserted that his agency had taken action against those committed frauds and demanded them revise their data. The agency will also impose a sanction if they refuse the request.

The issue about the data manipulation was touched on by NasDem Party politician Ahmad Hatari during a joint meeting of Commission IX and XI on Monday.

Ahmad mentioned 2,348 institutions did not register the right amount of their workers’ salary. This finding was based on the audit conducted by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

“BPK discovers 528,120 workers in 8,314 are not registered [to the health insurance],” said Ahmad.

The fraud reportedly caused BPJS Kesehatan sustaining deficit. Up to the end of the year, the figure is estimated to reach Rp32.8 trillion. Therefore, the Finance Ministry is mulling over the premium hike at 100 percent. The increase for participants Class I and II will take effect on January 1, 2020, while for those Class III will await the government’s data.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA