Govt accused of harassment in insurer bill

The special committee deliberating the insurer bill has criticized the government and accused it of harassing the House of Representatives for its withdrawal of the agreement it gave on social security providers and its nonattendance at the last deliberation meeting in an apparent attempt to suspend the bill’s endorsement.

The deputy chairman of the special committee, Surya Chandra Surapaty, and several other legislators who are members of the special committee said they regretted the government’s moves, which they said reflected the absence of the government’s political commitment to protecting the people, especially the poor and the jobless.

“The retraction of the agreement shows that the government has no political will to endorse the bill,” Surya said at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

Finance Minister Agus Martowardodjo, representing the government in the deliberation meeting on Oct. 14, retracted the government’s agreement on the proposed establishment of a first social security provider or BPJS I (tasked to manage the national healthcare program) as well as that of BPJS II (tasked to carry out the occupational health, old-age risk, pension and death benefit programs).

The agreements had been made by a special committee with Administrative Reforms Minister E.E. Mangindaan and National Development Planning Board chief Armida Alisyahbana, during a deliberation meeting on Oct. 4, 2011. Both sides also agreed to transform state-owned insurance company PT Askes into a public company to run the healthcare program, while PT Jamsostek would be tasked to carry out the remaining programs.