Persepsi Pekerja Informal dalam Manfaat BPJS Ketenagakerjaan: Studi Kasus di Kelurahan Padang Bulan Kecamatan Medan Baru

Abstract

Informal workers are among the most vulnerable groups in the labor market due to their limited access to employment social security protection. To address this issue, the Indonesian government has implemented the Employment Social Security Program through the Social Security Administering Agency for Employment (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan), which aims to provide social protection for both formal and informal workers. However, participation among informal workers remains relatively low, largely influenced by their perceptions of the program's benefits. This study aims to analyze the perceptions of informal workers regarding the benefits of the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan Program in Padang Bulan Village, Medan Baru District. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed using purposive sampling to select the research informants, consisting of informal workers as the main informants, a Special Account Representative of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan as the key informant, and the neighborhood head as an additional informant. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation and analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, which includes data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that informal workers' perceptions of the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan Program are shaped through three stages: receiving information, organizing information based on work experience and economic conditions, and interpreting the program's benefits. Most informants perceived the program positively, particularly regarding protection against occupational accidents, death benefits, and old-age security. Nevertheless, positive perceptions did not necessarily lead to active participation due to unstable income, limited understanding of the program, and the prioritization of daily household needs.