MoSA is Ready to Carry Out Presidential Directive to Distribute Direct Social Aid

JAKARTA (2 April 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs is ready to carry out President Joko Widodo's directive to include informal sector workers in DKI Jakarta as targets for the social safety net program. The prepared budget is Rp. 25 trillion for around 2.6 million informal sector workers in DKI Jakarta.

Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara ensured that the Ministry of Social Affairs was ready to execute the President's direction because the budget was ready. The aid would be in the form of food packages. This food package aid, said the Minister, was expected to prevent or suppress the flow of mudik (annual mass exodus from big cities to hometown particularly during Ramadhan and Eid al-Fitr), which had been already happening. The flow is predicted to increase as Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr draw near.

The Minister said that he had coordinated with DKI Governor Anies Baswedan. Both parties are currently finalizing the distribution of "special social aid" to 3.7 million informal workers in the capital. Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara confirmed that the finalization only awaited data from the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta.

"DKI Provincial Government has already provided aid for 1.1 million workers. The remaining 2.6 million people still need our support. The budget is ready. We are just waiting for the data from the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government to finalize the distribution mechanism, "said the Minister of Social Affairs Juliari in Jakarta, Thursday (02/04/2020).

The direct food aid is part of the latest economic stimulus delivered by President Joko Widodo the day before. As many IDR 110 trillion is allocated for social protection. Social Minister termed direct food aid as "special social aid" to distinguish it from regular social assistance namely the Family Hope Program (PKH) and the Sembako Program.

"This direct food package aid is a ‘special social aid’. The beneficiaries’ data refers to the data set by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. This special aid is disbursed to reduce their expenses. So, even though they are not working, it does not necessarily make them go mudik," said the Minister.

According to this father of two, the direct food package is the new type of social safety net programs. "While the Ministry of Social Affairs also has regular social assistance, namely the PKH and the Sembako Program to reach the poor in which the target setting refers to the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS)," said the Minister.

With these various assistances, the Minister emphasized that all of them were concrete steps taken by the government to ease the burden of the people affected by COVID-19. "This conveys that the government is present in the midst of society. And we make sure the government works hard to deal with the impact of the corona virus pandemic, "said the Minister.

In the meeting taken place at the Bogor Palace this morning, the President again emphasized to all related Ministries/Agencies, to prepare comprehensive scenarios, not just fragments or one aspect or only sectoral or regional interests.

From the upstream side, the Head of State considers that the social safety net or social assistance will be an economic stimulus, especially for the lower classes of society in the capital in handling COVID-19. As in DKI Jakarta, it requires the application of a social safety net policy for citizens in need.

Bureau of Public Relations

Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs