Hence, we need the rescue effort in the form of an economic stimulus that touches the most affected sectors. This is since the real sector has absorbed a significant number of workers. I hope they would be able to survive and not have to lay off workJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) urged ministries to ensure that the economic stimulus package is optimally implemented to salvage the real sector that absorbs maximum number of workers and to avoid layoffs over the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Hence, we need the rescue effort in the form of an economic stimulus that touches the most affected sectors. This is since the real sector has absorbed a significant number of workers. I hope they would be able to survive and not have to lay off workers," the head of state remarked at the opening of a virtual limited meeting on mitigating the impact of COVID-19 at the Merdeka Palace here on Wednesday.
Jokowi has instructed his aides to take three priority measures, with the first being quick evaluation of the real sector and subsector affected by the pandemic.
"Please separate which sector was the worst hit and which one can survive and seize business opportunity in such a situation," Jokowi added.
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The second priority measure involves the effective disbursement of the economic stimulus package to microenterprises in addition to small- and medium-scale businesses as well as the informal sector.
"I think it is very important that the economic stimulus package reaches micro, small- and medium-scale enterprises," he emphasized.
Jokowi explained that the third measure involved distribution of the economic stimulus scheme in an open, transparent, and measurable manner.
"Which sector will receive what stimulus and how many workers can be rescued, all were calculated. I want this to be verified in detail and evaluated regularly," he noted.
The government has raised the budget for COVID-19 mitigation to Rp405.1 trillion in its 2020 fiscal budget. The budget has yet to include the economic recovery program and stimulus for businesses.
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Translator: Indra AP, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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