Timika, Papua (ANTARA News) - Around 300 foreign workers, or expatriates, working in Mimika Sub-district, Papua, are listed as members of the Employees Social Security System (BPJS Manpower).

Acting chief officer of BPJS Manpower Mimika Carolus P.G. Sigalingging stated in Timika on Thursday that all foreign workers, who are already working in Indonesia for at least six months, should be registered as members of the office.

The step is in line with the implementation of Law Number 24 of 2011 on Social Security Agency.

"Around 300 foreign workers are listed as members of BPJS Manpower in Timika. The others are registered in Jakarta," Sigalingging noted.

According to Sigalingging, most of the foreign workers, especially those employed in Freeport Indonesia and related to the affiliates of sub-contractors, have already left Indonesia due to the recent mass layoffs by Freeport.

Of the hundreds of foreign workers, only a small number have already submitted their claims with the office.

"Only some people have already collected their cash from the Timika branch of BPJS Manpower. Maybe some of them collected their cash from other places, such as Jakarta and Bali, as the claims can be submitted in any branch as long as they submit the necessary paperwork," Sigalingging remarked.

Following mass layoffs of workers by some affiliates of Freeport from mid-February until mid-March 2017, the number of people collecting their cash from the Mimika branch of BPJS Manpower has risen dramatically.

"In several weeks following the mass layoffs of those Freeport workers, there has indeed been a rise in the number of people claiming their money at the Timika branch of BPJS. Usually in a day, we serve around 30-40 workers, but right now, we are serving more than 100 people daily," he pointed out.

According to data of BPJS Manpowers Mimika branch, the accumulated cash claimed as Elder Warranty in 2017 reached around Rp9 billion, the cash for Workplace Accident Warranty amounted to around Rp600 million, Death Warranty at around Rp528 million, and Pension Warranty reaching as much as Rp4.5 million.

"As long as the documents are complete, we will hand over the cash directly. For instance, if their documents are submitted in the morning, then we will transfer the money into their account by evening," he explained.

The administrative documents needed are the copies of the family card, ID, Jamsostek or BPJS membership, and the bank account number.

Moreover, they must bring along their resignation letter signed by the Labor Office, Transmigration and Mimika residence proof, and also the relieving letter from the company signed by a similar office in Mimika.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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