"We need to ramp up the spending amount of ministries and agencies in order to keep the rate hovering at five percent by year-end," he stated after attending the final cabinet plenary meeting chaired by President Joko Widodo in Nusantara, East Kalimantan, on Friday.
Hartarto noted that the government would also continue to pursue the optimal implementation of policies closely related to the well-being of middle-class people, such as government-borne value-added tax (PPN DTP) incentives for property and automotive sectors, with a special focus on certain electric vehicles.
The minister then drew attention to the Job Loss Security (JKP) program offered by the state employment social security provider BPJS Ketenagakerjaan.
"We are planning to make improvements to BPJS Ketenagakerjaan's JKP program to broaden its coverage so that more laid-off people can benefit from it," he remarked, adding that the cash assistance amount provided will increase.
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According to the minister, the planned improvements would be put forward in a government's regulation and manpower minister's regulation.
The JKP program offers laid-off workers more than merely cash aid, as it also provides counseling services, information on the job market, and training activities.
Earlier, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati assessed that pegging Indonesia's economic growth rate of 5.1 percent until the end of the year is not an easy task, given the current global economic slowdown.
Speaking to reporters in Jakarta on August 5, the state treasurer emphasized that the government would continue to pay close attention to household consumptions, investments, imports, and exports to maintain or boost the economic growth rate.
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Translator: Benardy F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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