Hundreds of Batang Fishermen Receive BPJS Employment Social Security Protection for Vulnerable Workers

Bhimasena Power, Batang Power Plant — A total of 149 fishermen from five coastal areas in Batang Regency—Ujungnegoro Village, Ponowareng Village, Karanggeneng Village, Roban Timur Hamlet in Sengon Village, and Roban Barat Hamlet in Kedungsegog Village—have been enrolled in BPJS Employment to expand access to social security protection for vulnerable workers.

The program is a collaboration among the Batang Regency Government through the Social Affairs Office, BPJS Employment, PT Bhimasena Power Indonesia (BPI), and the local community.

The membership handover ceremony was held at the Kedungsegog Village Office, Tulis District, on Wednesday (September 23, 2026). The event was attended by the Head of the Batang Regency Social Affairs Office, the Chairman of the Indonesian Fishermen Association (HNSI) of Batang Regency, representatives of the Batang BPJS Employment Branch, beneficiary fishermen, and BPI representatives.

The fishermen are registered under the Non-Wage Recipient (BPU) category and receive protection through the Work Accident Insurance (JKK) and Death Insurance (JKM) programs in accordance with BPJS Employment provisions.

This protection is particularly important for fishermen, who face various occupational risks while working at sea, ranging from unpredictable weather and waves to the risk of accidents. When such risks occur, the impact is not only felt by the fishermen themselves but may also affect their families, who depend on income from fishing activities.

Head of the Batang Regency Social Affairs Office, Willopo, said that beyond membership, understanding the benefits of social security protection is also important to ensure that the available protection can be properly utilized.

“Social security protection does not stop at membership. Understanding the benefits and procedures of BPJS Employment is also important so that fishermen are aware of the protection available to them,” Willopo said.

Willopo also expressed his appreciation for the contribution of PT Bhimasena Power Indonesia, which has provided social security coverage for the fishermen for one year.

Chairman of the Indonesian Fishermen Association (HNSI) of Batang Regency, Teguh Tarmudjo, also expressed his appreciation for BPI’s commitment to supporting protection for the local fishing community and providing fishermen with greater peace of mind in carrying out their daily activities.

“Fishermen work under conditions that cannot always be predicted. With this protection in place, we hope fishermen can work with greater peace of mind, while their families also have protection in the event of something unexpected,” said Teguh Tarmudjo.

The program is one of the follow-ups to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BPI and the Batang Regency Social Affairs Office, signed on May 26, 2026. As part of its implementation, BPI is supporting the payment of BPJS Employment contributions for 149 fishermen from May 2026 through April 2027.

General Manager of Stakeholder Relations at PT Bhimasena Power Indonesia, Aryamir H. Sulasmoro, said BPI’s involvement is part of the company’s collaboration to support the needs of coastal communities.

“For us, what matters is how the partnerships we have established can be translated into programs that address the actual needs of the community. Fishermen play an important role in the lives of coastal communities, and we are pleased to be part of this collective effort to support the protection of fishermen along the Batang coast,” said Aryamir H. Sulasmoro.

Through this collaboration, access to social security protection is expected to continue expanding and provide greater support for fishermen and their families in managing occupational risks.

For coastal communities, the sea will remain an important source of livelihood. With social security protection in place, fishermen are expected to carry out their work with greater confidence, while their families have additional support when facing unexpected risks.(**)