Workers Take to the Streets Protesting Manpower Ministry's JHT Regulation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - More than 1,000 workers will take to the streets today on February 16  and demand the Manpower Ministry to revoke its latest regulation that restricts people from withdrawing their old-age benefits (JHT). 

The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI) spokesperson Kahar Cahyono on Wednesday announced that the gathering point is set at the Manpower Ministry headquarters. 

The KSPI believes that the regulation No.2/2022 that oversees the terms and conditions on the payment of old-age benefits - especially the aspect where people are restricted from withdrawing it until the age of 56 - adds to the list of regulations issued by the ministry that impoverishes workers and threatens one aspect that is able to support the lives of workers. 

In the protest, workers demand President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, to remove Minister Ida Fauziyah.

The KSPI National Executive Council has also instructed workers unions under the KSPI badge to instruct its workers to participate in the protest in Jakarta and regions across Indonesia with the Manpower Ministry’s representative offices. 

Previously, Minister Ida Fauziyah herself in an official Youtube announcement urged people to carefully understand the latest regulation and clarified that participants of the old-age benefit (JHT) program can withdraw their savings before 56 years old but under certain requirements.

Read: Govt Urged to Evaluate New Regulation on Old-Age Benefit Funding or JHT

HENDARTYO HANGGI