Jakarta, October 1, 2024 – Indonesia is a maritime country. This factor drives the fisheries sector as one of the important lines in Indonesia’s economy. Unfortunately, working in the fisheries sector often faces various challenges that impact the welfare and security of workers, particularly regarding access to social security. DFW Indonesia has conducted a webinar titled “Social Security for Fisheries Workers: What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks for All Parties?” which was held online via Zoom and streamed live on YouTube DFW Indonesia Official on October 1, 2024. This event aims to discuss the challenges and solutions in the implementation of social security and to encourage collaboration among various stakeholders to improve access to social security.
This webinar involved discussions from various parties, such as Mardiana Setyaningsih from the Fisheries Vessel Crew Working Team, the Fishing Vessels and Fishing Equipment Directorate, Hafiz Ritonga as Relationship Manager for Special Participation and Agency Deputies at BP Jamsostek, Arnon Hiborang as Chair of SAKTI Sulut, and Miftachul Choir as Human Rights Manager DFW Indonesia, moderated by Siti Wahyatun, Public Lawyer Interest DFW Indonesia. Each speaker shared their perspectives on social security for workers in the fisheries sector, which often do not match the benefits offered and the lack of flexibility in registration, especially for informal workers.
Miftah stated that fisheries crew members are among the jobs with high risks and low pay. The absence of social security for fisheries crew when they go to sea forces them to spend more on health and care when experiencing work accidents.
“Providing social security for fisheries crew is crucial. Based on our research, fisheries crew spend much of their salaries on treatment due to work accidents, just to be able to go to sea again. Therefore, access to social security tailored to their needs needs to be implemented,” said Miftah.
Mardiana mentioned that if fisheries workers work on their own boats, they fall into the not the wage earner or known as BPU category.
“Boat owners often register them as BPU because crew members frequently change boats due to a lack of skills. One of the requirements for a vessel to set sail is that the crew must have social security in their PKL; hence, boat owners decide to register them as BPU,” said Mardiana.
This statement aligns with Hafiz’s presentation. He conveyed that the job of a fisherman currently falls into the BPU category.
“Fishermen as BPU can still claim their needs if they have BPJS Employment, such as Work Accident Insurance, Death Insurance, and Education Assistance for their dependent children.”
In reality, Arnon explained that many fisheries crew members should be categorized as the wage earner or known as PU, not BPU. Fisheries crew work under PKL stating that they will receive a monthly salary and/or profit-sharing. Unfortunately, many boats have crew members without social security and can still set sail. Fishing permits often still get issued even if the fisheries crew does not have BPJS Employment.
“Registering fisheries crew members with social security as BPU is not a concrete solution. This will cause fisheries crew to receive fewer benefits than they should, as regulated in the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation No. 33 of 2021.”
The issue of social security for fisheries crew indeed has a long way to go to be implemented equitably. Therefore, cooperation from various parties is needed to realize equitable social security provision for all fisheries crew in Indonesia. We hope this discussion can serve as a catalyst for collaboration among various parties to provide security and welfare for all workers in the fisheries sector in Indonesia.
