Heaptalk, Jakarta — The enactment of Government Regulation (PP) Number 21 of 2024 has sparked controversy among workers. This regulation mandates a 3% employee salary deduction for public housing savings (Tapera), which is set to be enforced in 2027.
Responding to the controversy, President Joko Widodo stated in a press release that the public housing savings policy is similar to the implementation of the BPJS Kesehatan contribution assistance program (PBI). “Likewise with the previous BPJS, excluding the PBI which was free for 96 million people, there was also a lot of controversy, but after it was running, I think people felt the benefits of not being charged when going to the hospital. These are the kinds of benefits that will be felt once it (Tapera) is running. Before that, there are usually pros and cons,” said Jokowi.
He is optimistic that people will feel the benefits of public housing savings once the program is operational. Tapera itself was initiated to facilitate people to own homes. He added, “These are the kinds of benefits that will be felt once it is running. Before that, there are usually pros and cons.”
Previously, on May 20, 2024, Jokowi established Government Regulation (PP) Number 21 of 2024, amending PP Number 25 of 2020 concerning the Administration of Public Housing Savings (Tapera). This regulation refines the provisions in PP 25 of 2020.
Article 15, paragraph (2) of PP Number 21 of 2024 states that the amount of savings for participants is shared by the employer, contributing 0.5%, and the employee, contributing 2.5%. Contributions must be deposited monthly by the 10th of the following month into the Tapera Fund account. If the 10th falls on a holiday or public holiday, the payment must be made on the first working day after the holiday. Payments are made through custodian banks, collecting banks, or other parties.
Under the new regulation, employers are mandated to register their employees within seven years of the implementation of PP 25 of 2020, which was on May 20, 2020. This means that employers must complete the registration process by 2027 at the latest.
