Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – The government started to deliberate a plan to distribute cash aid or wage subsidy to workers. The plan was brought up amid issues on the extension of the emergency public activity restrictions dubbed the Emergency PPKM until the end of July 2021.
"We are discussing it, just wait," confirmed Secretary-General of the Manpower Ministry, Anwar Sanusi, in Jakarta, Monday, July 19.
The discussion has been ongoing across ministries. However, there have been no detailed accounts yet as to whether the plan would be akin to last year's salary subsidy program.
In 2020, the government provided wage subsidies to workers. Those meeting the government's criteria received cash aid totaling Rp2.4 million, which was disbursed twice.
The assistance program was discontinued in 2021. In a press conference on the Emergency PPKM on July 17, 2021, however, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati again touched on the program and revealed that the program was being discussed.
Sri said the pre-employment program and the wage subsidy program were aimed at supporting workers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she stopped short of disclosing the details, including its implementation.