The capacity of participants was increased, from 164,000 to 200,000 people. The level of enthusiasm among the people from 34 provinces was very high. This is the first government program that utilizes a digital system to offer open access and equal o
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government will raise the capacity of participants and the budget for the pre-employment card program in the coming second phase in response to the high level of interest in the program among community members.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartanto made the statement at the coordination meeting centering on the pre-employment card and capacity building for the pre-employment program.

The meeting, held via videoconference, was attended by Head of the Presidential Staff Office Dr Moeldoko in addition to several ministers and related officials.

According to a press release sent by the Presidential Staff Office in Jakarta, Friday, the first wave of the Pre-Employment Card registration process was closed for participants on Thursday (Apr 16).

The program had a total of 5.7 million registrants, of which the status of 3.1 million participants had been verified.

Minister Hartanto highlighted the government’s plan to increase the capacity of participants after the first batch went well.

"The capacity of participants was increased, from 164,000 to 200,000 people. The level of enthusiasm among the people from 34 provinces was very high. This is the first government program that utilizes a digital system to offer open access and equal opportunity, and anyone can register," Hartanto explained.

Initial selection was conducted to gauge the participants’ enthusiasm to join this program. The participants of the pre-employment program are over 18 years of age and are not in school and not availing social assistance programs.

The government will verify with data sources from several ministries and institutions.

"All of this becomes a database and is cross-checked with the incoming data. Hence, all programs are based on active registration," he expounded.

The minister stated that the pre-employment program employs a digital system based on the concept of e-learning, with the majority being young registrants.

The pre-employment program is a training to hone skills and offer work placements after completion.

However, in the face of this pandemic situation, there is a pressing need for social safety nets, especially for those, who had been laid off. Hence, the pre-employment program is included to solve the current problems.

"The concept has been changed. Hence, in addition to training as well as a social safety net, the concept incorporates skill improvement," Airlangga explained.

The program’s budget has been increased to Rp20 trillion, and MSMEs will receive a special allocation.


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Translator: Rangga Pandu, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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