The Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), through the Directorate of Cultural Workforce and Institutions (PTLK) and the Directorate General of Culture, provides social security protection through BPJS Ketenagakerjaan for cultural practitioners who receive awards from the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Mendikbudristek), Nadiem Anwar Makarim. This aims to create a healthier ecosystem and provide peace of mind in conducting cultural work.
Director General of Culture, Hilmar Farid, along with the Director of Membership at BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, Zainudin, symbolically handed over membership cards to representatives of cultural practitioners at an event held at Graha Utama Building A, Kemendikbudristek Complex, on Tuesday (23/7).
A total of 67 outstanding cultural practitioners receiving the Indonesian Cultural Awards (AKI), Indonesian Music Awards (AMI), and Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) will receive protection from three BPJS Ketenagakerjaan programs: Work Accident Insurance (JKK), Death Insurance (JKM), and Old Age Insurance (JHT). During this event, financial support and scholarships were also provided to the heirs of an artist who passed away due to a work accident, totaling Rp221 million.
In his speech, Hilmar stated that cultural practitioners must be protected by the state. According to him, the profession of artists and cultural practitioners, like any other profession, is not without risks.
“I hope that this handover can increase the awareness of cultural practitioners and employers about the importance of social security protection so that they can continue to create without worry,” said the Director General.
Hilmar also emphasized the need for collaboration among various parties, including the central government, local governments, and employers, to fulfill the social security rights of all cultural practitioners in Indonesia.
“We are advocating to ensure that services like these are indeed provided by the state. Of course, we at the central government, specifically the Directorate General of Culture at Kemendikbudristek, are initiating efforts that can be continued by cultural departments at the district/city level,” he said.
Zainudin appreciated Kemendikbudristek’s strategic steps in preserving Indonesian culture through the provided protection.
He mentioned that the protection indirectly helps sustain the contribution and spirit of cultural artists to continue creating in their fields.
“We are ready to collaborate further. We will not stop working to provide good protection for our friends in the arts. We are eager to assist Kemendikbudristek, especially the Directorate General of Culture, in providing social security to all cultural practitioners,” Zainudin explained.
Anita Gathmir, founder of Tenun Tidore and one of the recipients of social security from Kemendikbudristek, welcomed the plan to draft regulations so that all local governments participate in providing social security protection for cultural practitioners in their areas.
She acknowledged that it has been challenging to encourage the local community to become weavers, as the profession is considered to lack retirement benefits or pensions.
“Parents don’t want their children to work there; they prefer them to become civil servants. Why? Because civil servants have pensions,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rommi Irawan, Head of the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan Jakarta Grogol Branch, stated that they continue to educate cultural practitioners and the creative industry ecosystem about social security protection due to the inherent risks of their profession. “Imagine if an accident happens during practice or rehearsal, who will cover the treatment and medical costs?” said Rommi.
Rommi Irawan emphasized the need for collaboration with cultural practitioners and the creative industry to ensure proper education on social security protection.
