MPSI Struggles for Art Workers to Have Social Security


Jakarta - The Indonesian Art Workers Society (MPSI) in collaboration with the Salemba Branch of the Social Security Agency for Employment, Central Jakarta, held a socialisation of the employment social security programme and iftar with the Jabodetabek art community at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta (25/3/2025)

‘This activity was carried out thanks to the support of the Social Security Agency for Employment  (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) and the PKJ Taman Ismail Marzuki in an effort to raise awareness, understanding and education of various social security protection programmes for arts workers,’ said David Karo-karo, secretary general of the Indonesian Art Workers Society (MPSI).

The dissemination activity of the Social Security Agency for Employment with the theme of Decent Work, Decent Wages, Decent Life for Activists was also attended by representatives of art communities, art activists, artists, dancers, singers, poets, musicians and cultural observer Taufik Rahzen.

The event began with the singing of Indonesia Raya, a theatrical performance of poetry by Dyah Koncoro, Narima Beryl, Naomi. In the public dialogue event moderated by Mujib Hermani, Chairman of MPSI and as speakers Brian Aprianto from the Social Security Agency for Employment and Timboel Siregar from BPJS Watch.

On that occasion, Brian Aprianto, as the representative of the Central Jakarta Social Security Agency for Employment, said that artists are a group at risk of work accidents, so it is important for artists to understand the benefits of participating in the Social Security Agency for Employment. The Social Security Agency for Employment insurance programmes are: Work Accident Insurance (JKK), Death Insurance (JKM), Old Age Insurance (JHT) and Health Maintenance Insurance (JPK). These insurance programmes can provide protection from the risk of work accidents when artists perform, health and safety protection, old age protection, health and education assistance for the children of artists and improve the welfare and quality of life of artists.

‘Artists can be participants in both the Social Security Agency for Employment (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) and the Social Security Agency for Health (BPJS Kesehatan). In the case of artists who are not wage earners and there is no party acting as a wage payer, they can join through studios or communities that have legal entities,’ concluded Brian Aprianto.

According to Timboel Siregar, from BPJS Watch, social security is a constitutional right of every citizen, including arts workers. Therefore, arts workers can become BPJS participants, both Social Security Agency for Employment  Employment and Social Security Agency for Health.

The Social Security Agency for Employment socialisation activity took place interactively, where arts workers showed enthusiasm through various questions about the technicalities of membership and the protection that arts workers would obtain.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of MPSI, Mujib Hermani emphasised that members of the Indonesian Art Activists Society are striving to obtain Social Security Agency for Employment membership cards by immediately forming ‘Perisai MPSI’ to serve its members who are spread across various regions in Indonesia. (M1)