JAKARTA (11 November 2019) – The Social Affairs Minister Juliari P. Batubara conveyed his proud and sympathy to the Social Worker Serve Unit (Sakti Peksos) which has been worked with full of dedication and sacrifices. These social workers were joined to solve the complicated social problems – especially the child problem, and also were the front line of the MoSA.

The Minister pointed out that the presence of Social Worker Serve Unit was important along with the President Joko Widodo’s vision which was to bring Indonesia onward. “Their presence will ensure that bureaucracy serve the people. The president’s message is that people must receive the benefit from every Ministry of Social Affairs’ programs. Including the children as the next generation, they are need to receive a good life,” said the Minister in his instruction on the Guidance and Reinforcement Activities for Social Work Serve Unit in Jakarta, Monday (11/11/2019).

The Director General of Social Rehabilitation Edi Suharto, Senior Advisor for Minister on Social Welfare Technology Harry Z. Soeratin, Senior Advisor for Minister on Social Change and Dynamic Asep Sasa Purnama, Director of Social Rehabilitation for Children Kanya Eka Santi, Director of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities Margowiyono, Director of Social Rehabilitation for Elderly Andi Hanindito, and Technical Assistance PROGRESA Team were attended in this event.

On that opportunity, the Minister spoke with four persons from Social Worker Serve Unit which was came from the far land in Indonesia. The Minister dig in the challenges which they faced on when they did the duty. He did not forget to appreciate and provide some spirit so that they could keep working.

“This profession has big challenges and it is not easy. If you work with your heart, then it will easy to do. Otherwise, if you just hoped on the material, it feels hard,” said the Minister.

In this opportunity, the Minister also pointed out on the importance of the MoSA in providing service and attention towards the children, along with the complexity of their problems. “The children welfare which we are dream on, now is still far from the reality. We are already heard on many cases which harms the children,” said the Minister.

The Social Affairs Minister mentioned on several cases related to the children abusive, including the parents who throwed away their child. For a basic need, said the Minister, there were many Indonesian child who were not able to go to school, did not receive health care, even did not have birth certificate which was the first civil rights for children.

Many data showed on how the child’s condition which was very poor. The Ministry of Social Affairs through Social Work Serve Unit recorded that there were 11.088 cases which involved the children per October 2019. Moreover, the depth of the case itself was apprehensive for the MoSA. “Every problem which being faced by those children is the part of our duty,” the Minister pointed out.

He reminded that the children had right to be inside the environment which guaranteed their safety and growth. Another right was that children should participated in the determination of needs, desire, and provided aspiration in every aspect of their life. “Not only that, children have right to receive protection,” said the Minister.

To the Social Worker Serve Unit who attended in this meeting, the Minister stated that they were the chosen youngster to do the noble task. “As what they called, Social Worker Serve Unit. Serve meant that loyalty and commitment to keep supporting the MoSA’s Duties on social rehabilitation for children. “I believe that you have do the job very well,” said the Minister.

In the same opportunity, Director General of Social Rehabilitation Edi Suharto stated that the duty and function of Social Worker Serve Unit was to prevent, case respond and management. “In children protection, the MoSA has developed the Social Rehabilitation for Children Program (PROGRESA) which contains the substance of social rehabilitation service for children holistically, systematically, and standardized,” said Edi.

PROGRESA had 4 components which was Social Rehabilitation, Social Assistance, Technical Support and Accessibility, with the continuous social rehabilitation service scheme. In PROGRESA, it explained that social rehabilitation covered the basic and continuous social rehabilitation, also the explanation on the authority of basic social rehabilitation for Local Government and continuous social rehabilitation for Central Government.

The Technical Guidance of Social Worker Serve Unit was followed by 122 persons from all around cities in Indonesia. This activity was purposed to create a worker who had ability to improve their performance and responsibility in developing the social function for children, so that the children could growth optimally.


Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau

The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs

Sonny W Manalu