"Especially for workers who are affected by the PPKM (enforcement of public activity restrictions) policy, as of today, we have distributed wage subsidy assistance to approximately 2.1 million workers from the target of 8.7 million workers who are projected to become the wage subsidy recipients," she disclosed at the National Coordination Meeting of the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo), held virtually from here on Tuesday.
The wage subsidy recipients have met the criteria stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Manpower Number 16 of 2021 concerning Amendments to the Minister of Manpower Number 14 of 2020 concerning Guidelines for Providing Wage Subsidy for Workers or Labors in Handling the Impact of COVID-19, she informed.
"Each wage subsidy recipient will receive Rp1 million from the government, transferred directly from the Himbara bank to the worker's account. Maybe this does not mean much for employers, but for many workers, this amount helps a lot to ease their burden," she remarked.
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In addition to providing wage subsidies, the government has also made guidelines for carrying out activities in the workplace, especially those related to work relations, by issuing the Decree of the Minister of Manpower Number 104 of 2021 concerning Guidelines for Implementing Work Relations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister noted.
The decree covers three things: the implementation of the work-from-home system, the implementation of working in the office or workplace, and laying off of workers, Fauziyah said.
The decree also discusses the provision of wages in the three work systems by regulating other rights related to wages, she added. Furthermore, termination of employment, as a last resort, can be taken if the COVID-19 pandemic has a severe impact on business continuity, she continued.
"The main thing that must be considered is that the implementation of these three things must be based on a collective and written agreement between employers and workers. I hope that the Manpower Minister Decree will serve as a guide and be guided as best as possible by employers," the minister remarked.
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Translator: Sanya Dinda, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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