Jakarta (ANTARA) - Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah has said that the government-initiated Job Loss Insurance (JKP) program has offered tangible benefits to workers whose jobs were terminated.

As of March 20, 2022, assistance in form of cash has been disbursed to 191 laid-off workers as part of the program, 94 people have been provided funding for self-assessment, 34 people for counseling, and 58 people who applied for more than five jobs have been provided financial support.

"This Job Loss Insurance Program has been organized by the government, and fellows who have experienced lay-offs have also benefited from the program, (the benefits) range from cash benefits, job market access, to job training," Minister Fauziyah said in a written statement received here on Tuesday.

She made the statement during a meeting with the House of Representatives' Commission IX, led by deputy chairperson of the commission, Nihayatul Wafirah, at the Senayan Parliament Complex, here on Monday.

Ten popular programs garnered the interest of the program's participants, Fauziyah said.

The programs covered graphic design, computer operation, barista training, English, tailoring clothes, beauty/hairdressing, digital marketing, housekeeping, office administration, and motorcycle fuel injector cleaning service/motorcycle maintenance services.

In terms of budget, in the February–November 2021 period, Rp823.9 billion was provided to at least 100,849,059 workers, she informed.

Meanwhile, the 2022 budget plan has made allocations for the difference in payment of the 2021 dues for 139,547 workers, amounting to Rp1,088 billion.

Another allocation has been made for the projected Job Loss Insurance contributions paid by the central government in 2022 (December 2021-November 2022) for 134,835,015 workers, totaling Rp1,131 trillion.

“So, the total budget needed for the Job Loss Insurance program in 2022 is Rp1,131 trillion. So the money was given by the Finance Ministry, given to the Manpower Ministry, and then we distributed it to Social Security for Work (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan)," she elaborated.

The minister assured that the government's budget to support the program was used effectively and efficiently. Social security funds given to workers who were laid off came from the recomposition of funding from the Work Accident Insurance and Death Security programs, as well as contributions from the government.

"The initial funding has been given by the government for this Job Loss Insurance Program of Rp6 trillion, which was submitted directly to Social Security for Work. So, this really is a program that has already been running because the government provided initial funds," she added.

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Translator: Indriani, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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