E

mployers restricting worker participation in the national health insurance (JKN) program, which is managed by the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS), could face sanctions under the 2011 BPJS Law, a senior official has said.

'€œAll offenses will bring sanctions that include warnings, fines and public service stoppages,'€ BPJS health sector director for legal and communication affairs and inter-institutional relations, Purnawan Basundoro, said.

Speaking at The Jakarta Post on Thursday, Purnawan said all employers must register their employees with the program to provide them JKN.

'€œIt is compulsory for employers in Indonesia to enroll their workers in the JKN program as mandated by the 2011 BPJS Law,'€ Purnawan explained.

He said the public service stoppage would be carried out by government institutions handling certain public service deliveries such as building permits (IMB), driver licenses (SIM), vehicle licenses (STNK) and work permits.

'€œWe will work with the Home Ministry and local administrations to require employers to enroll their workers into the national health coverage scheme,'€ he went on.

All employers are required to enroll their workers into the BPJS program on Jan. 1, 2015 at the latest, as stipulated in the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 111/2013 on the BPJS.

The Perpres says the employers'€™ premium will be taken from their monthly salary, 0.5 percent of their non-taxable income (PTKP), in which the ceiling is worth around Rp 4.7 million (US$410.57).

'€œWith such a ceiling requirement, a formal worker in Indonesia should pay a premium of around
Rp 230,000 maximum per family per month. We think such a premium is not too heavy for them,'€ said BPJS health sector spokesperson Irfan Humaidi.

He further said programs were underway to introduce the BPJS health sector to worker unions and employer associations, including the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), so that all employers would participate in national health coverage by 2015.

According to official data, around 8,246,484 employees (including ex-Jamsostek holders) and 1,236,370 informal workers have registered as members of the BPJS program, which came into effect on Jan. 1.

As a first step, the JKN program has been delivered to 121.6 million people or 48 percent of the Indonesian population, 96.4 million of which are considered eligible for premium payment assistance (PBI) of Rp 19,225 per individual per month.

Richer people must pay their own premiums ranging from Rp 25,500 per month to get healthcare services in the third-class facility, followed by Rp 42,500 (class II) and Rp 59,500 (class I).

All Indonesian citizens would be hopefully covered by the JKN program in 2019.

Purnawan said the BPJS program had set the groundwork for the protection of all Indonesians, including workers, in all economic activities and this program would comprehensively address all health-related hazards.

People suffering from mild illnesses to serious diseases are said to be covered.

'€œThe main principle of the BPJS is mutual cooperation. As the premium is low, all Indonesians must participate in the program, unless it will drain our state budget,'€ said Purnawan.