PANGKALPINANG — PT Timah continues its social security program for fishermen groups through a partnership with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, reinforcing the company’s commitment to protecting and improving the welfare of communities within its operational areas.
As a member of the MIND ID Mining Industry Holding, PT Timah has been running this fishermen social security initiative since 2022, with the program extended through 2025.
A total of 1,611 fishermen in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province and the Riau Islands Province are beneficiaries of the social security program, implemented in collaboration with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan.
Through this program, beneficiaries receive occupational accident insurance and life insurance. It is designed to provide security and social protection for individuals classified as Non-Wage Recipients (Pekerja Bukan Penerima Upah or PBU).
The program has already proven beneficial. One such example is Sumapermila, a resident of Belinyu, Bangka Regency, who received compensation from BPJS Ketenagakerjaan after her husband, a fisherman, passed away recently.
Following her husband's death, Sumapermila had to take on the responsibility of providing for her school-aged child. Although her other children offered assistance, she plans to use the compensation to start a small shop to support the family's economy.
“I plan to open a small store with the funds. It will help cover daily expenses and my child’s education. I never imagined PT Timah would care so much for us, the fishermen. Without their support, we wouldn’t have known about this kind of assistance,” she said in a recent news report.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (HNSI) for Bangka Regency, Lukman, stated that 450 HNSI members have received BPJS Ketenagakerjaan social security facilitated by PT Timah.
“This collaboration between PT Timah and HNSI has helped 450 fishermen so far. In addition to those facilitated through HNSI, some also registered directly through PT Timah. This program is truly beneficial to fishermen,” said Lukman.
He expressed hope that the program will continue, given the unpredictable and risky nature of fishing.
“We hope the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan program will keep going. We are ready to continue collaborating with PT Timah to ensure more fishermen gain access to this essential protection,” he added. (*)
