The Development of Universal Social Security and Politics of Health Care in Indonesia: A Critical Note

SEASS talk by Muhammad Ridha 

Abstract

The economic crisis in 1997, which in conjunction with massive social protests resulted in the stepping down of Suharto after 32 years as President of Indonesia, became the turning point for social security provision to be universalized. Accompanied by a significant role of international financial institutions, the development of universal social security took place as a reform process to consolidate the existing fragmented social security institutions to be regulated under a single policy framework.

The establishment of the National Social Security System (Sistem Jaringan Sosial Nasional; SJSN) in 2004 signifies this process. Influenced by the recommendations of the ADB (Asian Development Bank) the institutional framework was set up for the SJSN scheme to be managed as part of financial sector and to be instrumental for enabling economic growth. Until today, SJSN still contains several problems to deliver its universal social security services.

In 2014, Indonesia launched a universal national health care program managed by the newly created Social Security Agency (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial; BPJS) which promises access to all Indonesian citizens, including the large proportion of those without formal employment. Two years after its implementation, BPJS is still debated controversially as it has failed yet to meet its goals. It is the aspiration of current President Joko Widodo to turn Indonesia into one of the largest welfare states in the world. Whether he succeeds will depend on whether SJSN and BPJS will be delivering their targets.

This talk by activist-scholar Muhammad Ridha will discuss current developments in social security generally and health care particularly from a social-movement perspective: What are the effects of the developments in social security and health care for the people of the lower and middle classes of Indonesian society? How do social movements perceive the social security systems? What are the strategies and tactics addressing the socially and economically produced precarity? What  alternatives are there to the current social system and health care program?

Biography

Muhammad Ridha is a scholar-activist heavily involved with the issue of the working and oppressed class movement in Indonesia. After completing his Bachelor of Political Science at University of Indonesia in 2008, Ridha continued his studies at Murdoch University (Perth/Australia) and gained a Master's Degree in Development Studies in 2015 with his thesis entitled “The Development of Universal Social Security in Indonesia.” He is an active member in the Working People Party (Partai Rakyat Pekerja; PRP) and currently serves as Jakarta’s Regional Secretary of KPRI (Konfederasi Pergerakan Rakyat Indonesia, Confederation of Indonesian People’s Movements), a cross-class mass organization in Indonesia. He is also a member of the editorial board of indoprogress.com, an educational website aimed to disseminate progressive and pro-working class ideas in Indonesia. Aside of his activism, he is also engaged with research activities in INKRISPENA (Research Centre for Crisis and Alternative Development Strategy) and in Center of Political Studies (Pusat Kajian Politik), University of Indonesia. His research fields of interest encompass political economy, urban politics, public policy and contemporary political theory.