The launch of the Pre-Employment Card Program is in accordance with the directives of the President for the program to be launched this morningJakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto rolled out the Pre-Employment Card Program, Friday, aligning with President Joko Widodo's directives aimed at ensuring that the program offers an economic stimulus amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia.
"The launch of the Pre-Employment Card Program is in accordance with the directives of the President for the program to be launched this morning," Hartarto stated at the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs offices in Jakarta, Friday.
The pre-employment card, as stipulated in Presidential Decree Number 36 of 2020, offers assistance by providing training funding to workers, employees, people laid off from work, and high school or vocational school graduates aged 18 years and over, regardless of whether they are job seekers.
The minister stated that the Pre-Employment Card Program prioritizes young job seekers since out of the total seven million unemployed people, 3.7 million in the age group of 18 to 24 years, had yet to secure jobs.
"Of the 3.7 million jobless people in the age band of 18 to 24 years, 64 percent live in cities and 78 percent have received high school education and above," he pointed out.
Hartarto noted that the government was sentient of the fact that 90 percent of the total young job seekers had never taken certification trainings. The distribution of pre-employment cards is expected to boost their competence, competitiveness, and productivity.
In implementing the program, the government is teaming up with eight digital platforms: BukaLapak, MauBelajarApa, Pintaria, Ruangguru, Sekolahmu, Tokopedia, Pijar Mahir, and Sisnaker.
"The government has involved unicorn digital startup for the first time in the Pre-Employment Card Program, so that we can offer broader access to Indonesians," he stated.
Hartarto expounded that the marketplace or digital platform will make it easier for participants to find, compare, and evaluate various available institutions.
The government is offering a ceiling of some Rp3 million-Rp7 million to each eligible individual under the Pre-Employment Card Program. Participants can then pick the type of training programs available on the digital platform in tune with their interests.
He further stated that participants can make payments online through BNI, Ovo, and LinkAja, which means right from the registration process to the training selection and down to the payment can be made online.
"The training itself can be online and offline, by giving each participant an opportunity since the public is expected to choose wisely (the type of training)," he explained.
The government will also offering funding of Rp500,000 to each eligible individual to be paid in three stages, for transportation costs. For every evaluation of the program done by participants, the government will provide an additional Rp150,000.
"Once these individuals complete the training, they are offered the opportunity to evaluate it by partaking in a survey. On completion of the survey, they will receive another Rp150,000," Hartarto stated.
In the interim, the minister is encouraging online training to offer the necessary boost in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak. He has urged training course providers to register as partners on the digital platforms.
The minister stated that in the subsequent two weeks, the government will be raising awareness of this program, and the offline implementation will firstly be conducted for Bali, Riau Islands, and North Sulawesi.
"The community can now choose and learn, so they can decide on which training to participate in. Thus, registration will only be open for two weeks from now," he added. Related news: Garuda makes assurance of flights to Australia, the Netherlands
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Translator: Astrid F H/Aria Cindyara
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