Indonesian informal worker feels safer

Romlah is a wholesale worker in North Jakarta who, like many in Indonesia's informal economy, faced daily uncertainty. She had no formal work contract, no fixed salary, and no access to social protection. When accidents happened at work—which were not uncommon in her sector—she and her colleagues had to bear the costs themselves. The company considered her a “Borongan” worker, meaning she was only called in when needed and not entitled to labor rights like social security. This is a common situation in the transportation and logistics sector, where so-called "partnership" arrangements are often used to avoid providing proper worker protections. Romlah’s vulnerability was shared by many others in similar precarious conditions.

But everything started to change when Romlah heard from friends about FSB KIKES (Federation of health, industry, chemical, energy and mining) and KSBSI. Through their support, she joined several training sessions and socialization events focused on workers' rights and social protection—especially the BPJS Employment scheme. These sessions helped her understand how she could gain access to protection previously unavailable to her. Thanks to KSBSI’s guidance, Romlah and her colleagues registered as BPJS PERISAI (Indonesia Social Security Activator) participants. She is now covered under three essential programs: 1) Work Accident Insurance ; 2) Death Insurance ; and 3) Old Age Security. With this new coverage, Romlah feels safer and more empowered. She no longer works in fear of being left alone in case of an accident or emergency. She's also actively encouraged her fellow workers to register, creating a ripple effect of change within her community.

Romlah is deeply grateful to KSBSI and WSM for the knowledge and support she received. She hopes these programs continue to expand so that more informal workers like her can gain the protection and dignity they deserve—and ultimately transition toward more formal, secure employment.