Äs per Mr. President's directive, we need to strengthen social protection, so the government will give direct subsidies to it.Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government has raised social protection assistance as part of the efforts to address the hike in food and energy prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated.
The conflict between the two countries had led to inflation and price hike that will have an impact on the people's purchasing power, Hartarto remarked.
"As per Mr. President's directive, we need to strengthen social protection, so the government will offer direct subsidies to it," Hartarto noted during a virtual press briefing through the Cabinet Secretariat's Instagram handle on Tuesday.
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Earlier, the government had provided subsidies to holders of basic needs and non-cash food assistance cards through additional social assistance ahead of the fasting month of Ramadhan.
In addition, the government has provided direct cash assistance of Rp100 thousand per month to each beneficiary family to buy cooking oil in April, May, and June.
The direct cash assistance of Rp300 thousand will be paid in lump sum in April to each beneficiary family.
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The government will also subsidize the salaries of workers earning less than Rp3.5 million per month.
The wage subsidy assistance, which is currently being finalized and will be made public soon, will target 8.8 million workers.
"It will amount to Rp1 million for each of the 8.8 million workers. In total, the budget need (for the subsidy assistance) will be Rp8.8 trillion," he remarked.
The government will also provide Rp600 thousand worth of assistance to each of the 12 million micro businesses nationwide.
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Translator: Mentari Dwi G, Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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