On Thursday, April 9, 2020 The Association of Indonesia Philanthropy (PFI/FI) held an online meeting “Development of Joint Initiatives for the Protection of COVID-19 Volunteers“. The meeting was attended by 24 people from 10 member organizations and networks such as BAZNAS, Sekolah Relawan, Humanitarian Forum Indonesia (HFI), Indorelawan, Forum Zakat (FOZ), Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Secretariat of ASJB and Pujiono Center. The organization of the meeting participants was known to have attention to the development of entrepreneurship and involved volunteers in the handling of the COVID-19 emergency response in each institution. This online meeting was held to discuss efforts in the protection of volunteers in the form of social security (accident and death) as well as working standards or fixed protocols/procedures for volunteers.

This meeting which lasted approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes were moderated by Sita Supomo who represented the Indonesian philanthropy officer. During the discussion, each agency representative shares what they have done involving volunteers, such as prevention activities (spraying, making hygiene kits, etc.), service to the community, until the administrative activities of fundraising.

From the results of the discussion, it is known that most volunteers working in helping with the handling of COVID-19 do not get social security and protection. Some organizations have been seeking social security and protection through the Volunteer Protection scheme issued by BPJS Jamsostek for guaranteed occupational accident protection and death. Some of the obstacles faced in the protection of volunteers are the lack of info about the volunteer protection insurance and the funding limitations of the procurement party protection program. Besides, most organizations do not yet have any protocol or protection guidelines in volunteer flights to COVID-19 handlers. Some institutions adopt volunteer work protocols from the Ministry of Health’s guidance, BNPB, and so on.

Through this online meeting, participants agreed to form a COVID-19 volunteer protection Working Group with the main focus on the preparation of medical and non-medical volunteer protection guides as well as the campaign and dissemination of social security and volunteer protection to protect them in case of accidents and death during duty.

If your institution also wants to participate or contribute information related to the topics above, please contact us via WhatsApp or email info@filantropi.or.id.