Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The main obstacle to the immediate passage of a long-awaited bill on social security is the government's reluctance to relinquish control of four lucrative st

Jakarta – An alliance of major labor unions fighting for a national social security program has coordinated with certain political parties at the House of Representatives to initiate an

Dicky Christanto, Jakarta – An NGO is planning to file a judicial review regarding the 2010 Law on the 2011 State Budget, calling it unconstitutional for not allocating adequate funds f

Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – The government must shift its policy approach on Papua away from the welfare model and toward one focused on resolving the political turmoil there, a leading sec

Ulma Haryanto & Arientha Primanita – Jakarta is no city for buskers, beggars, roadside sex workers, the homeless, delinquents and the mentally challenged who are poor.

Jakarta – The 2004 Social Security Law remains dead in the water pending the passage of the Social Insurance Management Agency (BPJS) bill, and the issuance of supportive regulations on

Dion Bisara – The government plans to increase this year's subsidies for energy and other basic commodities in what some analysts see as a populist policy to help prop up its sagging po

Jakarta – The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) has called on the central government to stop the direct cash aid program for the poor because of rampant illegal fees.

Jakarta – The distribution of direct cash aid (BLT) for the poor as of Monday has reached fewer than 15 percent of municipalities and regencies across the archipelago.

Jakarta – Poor communication by the government with its people and its neighbors has seen the birth of an unfavorable national security agreement and massive protests against a fuel con

Ary Hermawan, Jakarta – Theologically, Islam encourages its adherents to perform philanthropic deeds in the widest sense, but Indonesian Muslims often only do so in the light of persona

Dili – President Xanana Gusmco Thursday criticized the East Timorese government's decision to begin paying benefits to former guerrilla freedom fighters as premature and destined to pro

Max Lane – The Indonesian government's policy, announced last month, of giving a A$40 handout to people on an income of less than $25 per month as compensation for rises in fuel prices

Max Lane – It has been almost a month since the Indonesian government increased the retail price of petrol by 126% and of kerosene by 300%.

Jakarta – Indonesia could be forced to cut back on a state funded compensation scheme for the poor which was supposed to compensate for a reduction in fuel subsidies planned for October

The government has cut fuel subsidies, but raised subsidies for other things including health and education for the country's poorest families.

Moch. N.

Jimbaran, Bali – Aside from mismanagement, poverty and overpopulation have aggravated the development of a social security system in Indonesia.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government will pay out 495.8 billion rupiah (S$112 million) in subsidies for the poor and public transport operators to offset planned fuel price hikes.

Jakarta – The number of city residents purchasing rice via the city-run inexpensive rice program increased by nearly 70 percent to 118,417 families in May from 69,998 families in March,