InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Preparing for retirement requires more than maintaining physical health and accumulating savings. Social security coverage should also form part of workers’ long-term planning while they are still in their productive years.

The message was delivered by Sumarjono Saragih, a member of the Supervisory Board of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, during the Social Security Academy organized by the International Labour Organization’s International Training Centre (ILO–ITC Turin) in September 2026.

Sumarjono said social security should not be viewed solely as protection when workers face risks. Instead, it is part of longer-term preparation for maintaining a decent standard of living as people move into old age.

“Growing old in good physical and social health is a dream for many people,” he said, adding that adequate savings and social security can provide additional protection in later life.

Protection During the Working Years

Preparation for retirement, he said, needs to start early. This includes setting aside part of one’s income and ensuring participation in employment social-security programs.

BPJS Ketenagakerjaan provides social protection programs designed to cover workers against various risks during their employment and into retirement. However, some workers of productive age remain outside employment social-security coverage, with information gaps, financial circumstances and the nature of employment among factors that may affect participation.

Sumarjono emphasized that worker welfare encompasses more than employment and income. Occupational safety, health, protection from work-related risks and social security are also components of decent working conditions.

A Shared Responsibility

The challenge of expanding social-security coverage is not limited to Indonesia. Countries around the world continue to work on extending protection and ensuring workers receive adequate coverage throughout their lives.

Building an effective social-security system therefore requires cooperation among governments, employers, workers and the wider community.

“Social security is not merely protection when risks arise. It is an investment in a dignified life,” Sumarjono said.

For Indonesian workers, the message underscores the importance of considering social protection alongside financial savings when preparing for the future. (T2)

Source: InfoSAWIT