MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - North Sumatra has been named one of ten provincial nominees for the Jamsostek Award 2026, highlighting the provincial government's commitment to expanding social security coverage for workers. Particular attention is being given to vulnerable workers who need support to gain access to adequate social protection.
North Sumatra Governor
Bobby Nasution reaffirmed this commitment during the national hearing for the
Jamsostek Award 2026 at Pullman Jakarta Indonesia Thamrin CBD in Jakarta on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. Bobby outlined various policies and initiatives introduced by the provincial government to increase participation in the workers' social security programme. These measures target both
vulnerable workers and those employed in the formal sector.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government considers expanding workers' protection an important part of its regional development agenda. Through financial assistance, stronger policy frameworks and cooperation with various partners, the government aims to ensure that more workers are protected against the social and economic risks associated with their employment.
"We allocate funding for the social protection of particularly
vulnerable workers. At the same time, the labour office is working to improve protection for workers in the formal sector. In the 2026 Regional Government Work Plan (RKPD), the
North Sumatra Provincial Government has set a target of achieving 53.26 per cent coverage under the workers' social security programme," Bobby said.
Expanding Protection for Vulnerable Workers
The target of achieving 53.26 per cent social security coverage in 2026 is one of the
North Sumatra Provincial Government's key priorities. The government intends to broaden the programme's reach so that its benefits extend beyond workers in the formal sector. Vulnerable workers who currently have limited access to social security are also expected to receive greater protection.
To achieve this objective, the provincial government is following the direction set out in the Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD). It is also seeking to increase allocations from the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget and strengthen cooperation with various stakeholders.
One important approach is to involve the private sector more closely through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. These partnerships are expected to open up additional funding sources for workers' protection while helping increase participation in the social security scheme for employees.
Bobby stressed that the provincial government would continue allocating funds to ensure the programme was implemented as planned. In his view, meeting the targets requires measurable planning and long-term cooperation. These elements are essential to ensuring that efforts to expand workers' protection remain consistent and sustainable.
"We are optimistic that the targets set for the 2026–2030 period can be achieved. We will continue seeking the necessary budget allocations to meet the funding requirements of the protection programmes. In this way, we want to ensure that future results not only meet the targets but potentially exceed them," Bobby said.
BUDGET ALLOCATIONS AND PRIVATE-SECTOR COOPERATION: North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution reaffirms the importance of financial support and partnerships with the private sector in expanding social security protection for vulnerable workers. (PHOTO: North Sumatra Communication and Informatics Office)
Cooperation with 33 Regencies and Cities
Alongside provincial budget allocations, Bobby has called on regency and city governments to play a greater role in expanding workers' social security coverage. Cooperation between different levels of government is an important step towards reaching employees throughout North Sumatra.
To strengthen programme implementation, the provincial government has issued a governor's regulation and a governor's instruction. These provide the framework for implementing workers' social security across the province's 33 regencies and cities. The measures are intended to improve coordination and encourage local administrations to develop initiatives tailored to the needs of workers in their respective areas.
Bobby pointed to the joint funding model already used under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme. Under this arrangement, the North Sumatra Provincial Government covers 80 per cent of the funding, while regency and city governments contribute the remaining 20 per cent.
The model offers an example of how funding responsibilities can be shared between the provincial government and local administrations. Through this approach, regional authorities can strengthen their support for social protection programmes without relying exclusively on a single funding source.
To expand coverage under the Universal Coverage Jamsostek (UCJ) programme, Bobby said regency and city governments could apply for provincial financial assistance, known as BKP. The funding is intended to help meet the costs of providing workers' social security in their respective areas.
The
North Sumatra Provincial Government is relying on this cooperation model to enable each region to strengthen its programmes in line with local needs and available budget resources. At the same time, the partnership is intended to improve access to workers' social security and ensure that coverage is distributed more evenly throughout the province.
POLICY SUPPORT AND PROVINCIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution promotes cooperation between the provincial government and the province's 33 regencies and cities. Policy measures and provincial financial assistance are intended to expand workers' social security coverage. (PHOTO: North Sumatra Communication and Informatics Office)
Nomination Provides Opportunity to Review Progress
Bobby welcomed North Sumatra's inclusion among the ten provincial nominees for the Jamsostek Award 2026. He views the recognition both as a reminder of the challenges that remain and as an incentive to improve the implementation of workers' social security programmes.
The nomination also gives the provincial government an opportunity to strengthen ongoing initiatives, assess the results achieved so far and identify areas requiring further action. The
North Sumatra Provincial Government wants to ensure that expanding workers' protection goes beyond formal achievements and delivers tangible benefits to employees.
The provincial government will continue seeking additional budget resources, intensifying coordination with regency and city administrations, and developing further partnerships with the private sector. These efforts form part of its broader strategy to achieve the social protection targets established for 2026–2030.
North Sumatra's nomination for the
Jamsostek Award 2026 provides an opportunity to reinforce its commitment to increasing social security coverage and improving workers' access to protection. The success of these efforts will depend on the consistent implementation of policies, the availability of sufficient funding and the involvement of various stakeholders in extending social protection to an ever-growing number of workers.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala