T

he country is working to develop an insurance scheme for millions of fishermen to provide social security and maintain the sustainability of the sector in the world’s largest archipelagic country.

The 2016 law on the protection and empowerment of fishermen, fish farmers and salt farmers, passed by the House of Representatives in March, stipulates that both central and local governments must protect people working in these sectors from occupational risks, including work accidents and equipment damage.

Following the issuance of the law, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has vowed to allocate up to Rp 250 billion (US$18.7 million) for this reason.

Speaking in a recent discussion, Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) director for participation expansion and inter-organization relations E. Ilyas Lubis said his agency had started discussions with the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister on the future of the social security scheme for more than 2 million people who work in the country’s fisheries sector.

The agency, however, has yet to hold discussions with the ministry on the technical implementation of the anticipated scheme. He added that BPJS Ketenagakerjaan was eager to take over the social security scheme for fishermen as it was obligated to provide social security for wage earners and non-wage earners.

“The basic security scheme for fishermen should be conducted by BPJS Ketenagakerjaan as we are tasked with providing [social security] guarantee,” Ilyas said.

Under the 2004 National Social Security Program Law and the 2011 Social Security Provider Law, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is entrusted with running the occupational accident program, old-age risk program, pension program and death insurance program for all, including workers.

Specifically for fishermen, fish breeders and salt farmers, Ilyas said that they would be eligible for accident insurance and life insurance.

“Small fishermen and those who work for larger companies will be eligible for the protection that BPJS Ketenagakerjaan provides. They will receive the same services,” he said.

National Social Security Research Center executive director Ridwan Max Sijabat, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of insurance for fishermen, whose jobs were categorized as high risk due to injuries caused by various factors, such as ship collisions.

“Before [fishermen] can be protected by commercial insurance, they must first receive basic protection from BPJS Ketenagakerjaan for their daily activities,” he said.

Indonesian Fishermen’s Association (HNSI) secretary-general Anton Leonard said the future social security scheme should also include Indonesian seamen who work abroad for foreign fishery companies.

Furthermore, he emphasized that crewmen working for large fishery ships should have their insurance covered by their company since they were paid very little monthly.

An independent fishermen, Anton said, could bring home up to Rp 5 million a day, while a crewman of a large fishing boat usually earned only between Rp 800,000 to Rp 1 million a month.