Finance Ministry Responds to BPJS TK Sexual Harassment Scandal

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Finance Ministry finally expressed its comments on a complaint letter sent to the ministry on December 19, 2018,  by a former secretary and alleged sexual harassment victim that happened within the Worker's Social Security Agency (BPJS ketenagakerjaan or BPJS TK).

The letter from the victim RA (27), was officially sent to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani.

The Finance Ministry assured that the suspected violator, Syafri Adnan Baharuddin (59), has submitted his resignation letter from his position as BPJS ketenagakerjaan supervisory board member.

"The individual has offered his resignation," said the Finance Ministry's spokesman Nufransa Wira Sakti to Tempo on Thursday, January 3, 2019. In terms of his replacement, a letter has been sent by the ministry to the president on December 31, 2018.

RA's letter consists of five pages filled with details of her employment at the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan up to the sexual harassment she experienced from her point of view. In the letter, RA claims she was forced by Syafri to have sexual intercourse multiple times.

A surprising fact was also revealed by RA in the letter stating that she already reported her former boss' criminal act to the supervisory board within the BPJS TK but was not provided with any solution, which is why she decided to write to the Finance Ministry.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA