In June 2004, Indonesia´s Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration announced a decree requiring all workers in Indonesia to join the state-owned social security program Jamsostek. Beginning April 26, 2004, enrollment in Jamsostek became compulsory for all companies and employees, including expatriates. However, this new decree came as a surprise to companies in Indonesia, since a draft law to reform the National Social Security System, which will replace all existing social security systems including Jamsostek, has already been completed and is expected to be approved in the next few months.

Previously, workers paid into one of three government-run programs: Jamsostek, Askes and Taspen, or Asabri. Now, all workers must pay into the current "national" program, Jamsostek. This program includes life insurance, occupational accident insurance, and retirement benefits. The employer is responsible for paying the full contribution for an employee´s life insurance (0.24% - 1.74% of an employee´s wages) and occupational accident insurance (0.3% of an employee´s wage) programs. Contributions for the retirement program are paid by both the employer (3.7% of wages) and the employee (2.0% of wages). Jamsostek also offers an optional healthcare program requiring a married employee to contribute 6.0%; a single employee would contribute 3.0%.

The Ministry of Manpower states that around 17,000 expatriates have already enrolled in Jamsostek. However, many expatriates´ private social security programs provide better benefits, so it is common for an expatriate to enroll in Jamsostek, but also keep their private scheme as well. Moreover, enrollment of expatriates, who typically have higher salaries than local workers but are required to pay the same contribution percentages, will improve Jamsostek´s financial situation. Currently, Jamsostek only requires that employees pay around 4% of their salary in contributions, so employees in Indonesia receive few benefits from this program. Social security programs in other southeast Asian countries require much higher premiums, such as 22% in Singapore, but provide significantly better benefits to employees.