Tuesday, 08 September 2026
DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - The Deli Serdang Regency Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving social protection for workers in the informal sector. Deli Serdang Regent Asri Ludin Tambunan on Monday, September 7, 2026, handed over free BPJS Ketenagakerjaan work-accident insurance memberships to 24 Deli Serdang residents who work as online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers.
The membership handover took place during the regent's reception of a delegation from the Central Executive Board of Komando Ojol Indonesia Raya (DPP KOJIRA) at the Deli Serdang Regency Government administrative complex.The program provides ojol drivers with social insurance protection without placing an additional burden on their income. The Deli Serdang Regency Government is covering the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan membership contributions in full for all 24 drivers.
As a result, the ojol drivers will no longer have to set aside part of their daily earnings or bonuses to pay for social protection contributions. The initiative also reflects the government's concern for workers who earn their livelihoods on the roads every day.In his view, workplace accidents not only affect workers' physical condition but can also directly threaten a family's economic stability. When a driver is unable to work after an accident, the household income could disappear at the same time.
"We can see together that following a workplace accident, a family's economic foundation often disappears immediately. Previously, the contributions were deducted from their daily bonuses. I therefore believe it is appropriate for the government or the state to be present and help reduce their burden," he said.Asri Ludin believes the government must take preventive measures to protect the public. In his view, social insurance protection should not only come into effect after workers have already suffered an accident. Instead, people must be protected before a risk occurs.
For this reason, the Deli Serdang Regency Government has reaffirmed its plan to expand the reach of its social protection program. The target group is not limited to ojol drivers but also includes other informal-sector workers who face occupational risks and have limited ability to independently finance social insurance contributions."For the future, I hope more and more vulnerable workers will receive protection. The government should not only be there for people when they need help, but should be present before a risk occurs," he stressed.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the government's presence in protecting vulnerable workers and provide them with greater security. Protection through BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is also part of efforts to safeguard families' economic stability when workers suffer workplace accidents or other risks related to their occupations.
DPP KOJIRA adviser Said Siregar and DPP KOJIRA Chairman Rudi Zulham Hasibuan welcomed the initiative by the Deli Serdang Regency Government. According to Said, the government's attention to the welfare and safety of ojol drivers is significant for workers who spend their working days on the roads.
KOJIRA currently represents around 1,100 members. For the organization, providing BPJS Ketenagakerjaan memberships to 24 ojol drivers from Deli Serdang represents an important step because it provides workers with additional protection while carrying out their jobs.Said emphasized that the initiative also demonstrates that the government does not view ojol drivers solely from the perspective of transportation and delivery services. Their circumstances as workers who bear responsibility for their families are also being taken into consideration.
"I think this is a clear commitment and, at the same time, proof that the government is present in the midst of society. I hope the ojol drivers will be even more motivated to work through this membership, while their families will also have greater protection," he said.According to Said, social insurance protection can provide drivers with additional security while they are working. Through BPJS Ketenagakerjaan membership, drivers are protected if they suffer a workplace accident that could affect their ability to earn an income.
KOJIRA's recognition also underscores the importance of close cooperation between the regency government, workers' organizations and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan in expanding access to social protection for informal-sector workers.
The Head of the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan Tanjung Morawa Branch Office, Bunyamin Najmi, also praised the commitment shown by the Deli Serdang Regency Government. In his view, the regency government's attention to vulnerable workers provides tangible benefits that directly reach the community.
Bunyamin explained that the protection program is not merely an administrative form of membership but provides concrete benefits in the event of a workplace accident. He cited the example of a worker involved in grass maintenance who recently suffered a workplace accident."The benefits of this program can be felt directly in practice. Recently, for example, a worker involved in lawn maintenance suffered a workplace accident. Thanks to his membership, which was funded by the regency government, he was able to receive treatment at the hospital without having to worry about the cost of medical care," he explained.
The example highlights the importance of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan membership for informal-sector workers. Groups such as ojol drivers, cleaners, field workers, construction workers and other informal workers face occupational risks that are not always commensurate with their financial ability to independently afford adequate insurance protection.Through support from the regency government, vulnerable workers have better opportunities to obtain social insurance protection without having to use part of the income they need for their daily livelihoods.
The handover of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan memberships to 24 ojol drivers represents another step by the Deli Serdang Regency Government toward expanding social protection. The regency government hopes the program will not be limited to the initial group of members but will continue to expand so that more vulnerable workers can benefit from the protection provided.The expansion of membership is also expected to provide greater security for informal-sector workers as they carry out their jobs. Better insurance protection enables them to continue fulfilling their roles as family breadwinners without excessive concern over the potential economic consequences of a workplace accident.
This commitment makes the protection of vulnerable workers an important component of efforts to improve the welfare of the people of Deli Serdang. The government, workers' organizations and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan are expected to further strengthen their cooperation so that access to social insurance can be expanded and more people can benefit from its services.The free provision of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan memberships to 24 ojol drivers also marks the beginning of further efforts to expand social protection for online motorcycle taxi drivers and other informal-sector workers across Deli Serdang Regency. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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