Does Indonesia Need a Better Welfare System?

A good welfare system on which people could have free health insurance and free money from the government if they are jobless, seems a very fabulous idea. Developed countries such as Japan, Australia, US, UK, etc implement this kind of system. That is why more Indonesian people are trying to get permanent residence or even citizenship in developed countries.

Indonesia has implemented free education for Elementary and Junior High School though some schools still require the children to buy new books and new school uniforms every year.

For the health insurance, Indonesian companies have to pay insurance to Jamsostek for their workers. Jamsostek is also available for people who does not have a formal work, but it is not compulsary for them.

There is the good side of having a very good welfare system. And there is the bad side of it as people can abuse the welfare system. The government is able to pay money to the people who are jobless by taking high taxes from the people who have jobs.

Developed countries which have been implementing this good welfare sytem for a long time, know that the system is too easy for the people to take advantage of. Someone who is jobless would take minimum basic salary from the government. Jobless people with children would even take higher benefit from the government. This system does not encourage a person to work 40 hours per week if he could only get the same minimum basic salary. Criminals would give false report to the government in order to take more benefits. And the real victims of this crimes is tax paying citizens, as well as people who really need Government assistance.

Does Indonesia need to copy the welfare system from developed countries? I don't think we need to make an exact copy of that kind of system. Our welfare system could now be enhanced to provide free education for senior high school. Books from former students could be passed on the new students. New books  do not have to be purchased as long as the curriculum has no major changes. Jamsostek may be enhanced by still providing health insurance to ex-workers when they are retired. This would be a better welfare system for Indonesia now.