Key options for reforming Indonesia's pension system: reshape the mandatory defined contribution plan (Jamsostek), make employer-sponsored pensions more attractive and affordable, and contain the fiscal burden of civil service plans (Taspen).
Indonesia's nascent capital markets stand to benefit significantly from a thriving pension industry. Now is the time to reform the pension system, while it has a vibrant economy, rapidly rising income, and a young and growing workforce. The three main reforms suggested by Leechor are to:
Reconsider the role of mandatory defined contribution (Jamsostek) plan. Long-standing public distrust of Jamsostek tends to undermine the government's credibility, and terminating the program would probably win popular support. Without Jamsostek, many firms might operate employer-sponsored plans. One argument for reforming it is that it could be a powerful instrument for resource mobilization. One option is to maintain mandatory participation but abolish the current monopoly on administrative and investment services and open them to competition from accredited banks, insurance companies, and pension-service companies. Another option is allow firms already operating approved plans to drop Jamsostek contributions, but require other firms to make them, choosing their own administrative services.
Make employer-sponsored pensions more attractive and affordable. With compliance in the Jamsostek plan so low, the only realistic option for most workers (apart from private savings and relying on family support) is the employer-sponsored pension. Few companies now operate approved pensions, covering only 10 percent of the formal workforce. Certain measures might encourage private firms to adopt plans providing secured and portable pensions:
Contain the fiscal burden of the civil service pension plans. Options Leechor discusses: improving investment results; setting limits on administrative expenses; providing the same vesting and portability of benefits required of private pensions (to facilitate labor mobility between private and public sectors); rationalizing benefits; raising the retirement age; and considering partial funding of benefit obligations.
This paper — a product of the Country Operations Division, Country Department III, East Asia and Pacific — is part of a larger effort in the department to understand and monitor financial sector development in Indonesia. Copies of the paper are available free from the World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433. Please contact Chad Leechor, room MC9-444, telephone 202-458-2407, fax 202-522-1675, Internet address cleechor@worldbank.org. (42 pages)
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