Indonesia employs 530,000 people, not in the Covid Red Zone

JAKARTA, TheIndonesiaPost – Coronavirus COVID-19 does not mean that all must stop working. The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is expanding employment opportunities amid the disruption of world economic conditions. The combined national program consists of a cash-for-work program of 530 thousand people, with a budget of Rp10.22 trillion. The program is spread in 34 provinces in Indonesia, but not in the COVID red zone.

Eight cash-intensive labor policies that will be realized soon, namely:

1. The Irrigation Water Use Improvement Program (P3TGAI);
2. Making Artificial Aquifer of Rainwater Storage (ABSAH);
3. Routine Maintenance of Roads and Bridges;
4. Regional Socio-Economic Infrastructure Development (PISEW);
5. City Arrangement Without Slums (KOTAKU);
6. Waste Management Sites for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (TPS 3R);
7. Provision of Community-Based Drinking Water and Sanitation (Pamsimas), and Community-Based Sanitation (Sanimas);
8. New Development and Quality Improvement of Self-Help Homes.

“The development program must not stop. In accordance with the orders of Mr. President Joko Widodo that the Cash Intensive Work Program (PKT) or cash for work be accelerated. This will maintain people’s purchasing power and greater employment opportunities. The allocated budget of Rp10.22 trillion is spread across 34 provinces, “said PUPR Minister, Basuki Hadimuljono, as reported by the Presidential team.

According to Basuki Hadimuljono, the PKT program will involve the community / local residents as part of development, especially in the construction of small-scale infrastructure or simple work that does not require technology. The main objective of this program is to maintain the people’s purchasing power to the villages because the money is distributed through development in the villages.

“Well, even though the work involved a lot of people in the local area because it is still a COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, the COVID handling protocol is still implemented, as all workers wear masks and challenge,” Minister Basuki said. (Asm / bbs)