He emphasized the importance of using BSU funds responsibly during a visit to a post office in Boyolali district, Central Java, on Friday, where he reviewed the aid distribution process.
“Please make the most of this assistance for productive purposes. Since the new academic year has just begun, you can use the funds to buy school supplies or uniforms,” Gibran told beneficiaries.
The Vice President also encouraged residents to use the aid, which amounts to Rp600 thousand (around US$36) per recipient, to purchase staple commodities and avoid spending it on cigarettes.
“Mothers can use this assistance to buy basic necessities for their households. If possible, please reduce cigarette consumption,” he said, urging housewives to help control their family members’ smoking habits.
Gibran also warned the public against misusing the aid for illicit activities, especially online gambling.
He stressed that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) have the authority and capability to track down BSU recipients suspected of misusing the funds.
He made the remarks in response to a recent PPATK report, which revealed that 571,410 social aid recipients across Indonesia allegedly used aid funds for online gambling in 2024.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Manpower, Immanuel Ebenezer, who accompanied Gibran during the visit, informed that the BSU program has reached at least 86 percent of its roughly 15 million targeted recipients.
The wage subsidy assistance is a part of an economic stimulus package launched by the government to boost people’s purchasing power. The distribution of the aid is regulated by the Manpower Minister’s Regulation No. 5 of 2025.
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Translator: Mentari D, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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