Social Minister Ensures Layoffs and Displaced Residents Due to COVID-19 Receive Social Assistance

JAKARTA (May 11, 2020) – The Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara, accompanied by the Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Harry Hikmat, and the Head of Center, Juena Sitepu, reviewed the conditions of beneficiaries at the Jakarta “Mulya Jaya” Center which was used as a Temporary Shelter (TPS), as well as ensuring that the services provided are in accordance with what is needed.

"This center is used as a TPS, which is a policy of the Ministry of Social Affairs through the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to vulnerable groups, the elderly, persons with disabilities, beggars, scavengers, and homeless people," said the Minister of Social Affairs while giving a speech at the “Mulya Jaya” Center, Pasar Rebo, Jakarta, Monday (11/5/2020) afternoon.

Especially, said the Minister of Social Affairs, for neglected residents who live on the streets and do not have a job and need special attention in handling it. Including laid-off victims who do not have a place to live and family in Jabodetabek.

"Other centers that are used as temporary shelters are Jakarta “Handayani” Children’s Center, Jakarta “Bambu Apus” Drugs Center, Bekasi “Budhi Dharma” Elderly Center, Bekasi “Tan Miyat” Center for Persons with Visual Disabilities, Melati Hospital Center, as well as Bekasi “Pangudi Luhur” Center for Ex-Homeless and Beggar Center.

In the event, as many as 74 basic food packages from the President were distributed to Beneficiaries (PM) who were still at the center, or who had returned to their families. The Minister of Social Affairs symbolically assisted four beneficiaries, namely neglected people, victims of layoffs, the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities, and Beggars.

"Hopefully, this assistance will be useful, ma'am," said the Minister of Social Affairs to one of the beneficiaries while handing over the basic food packages in his hand. "Thank you, sir, thank you," he replied. One of the Persons with Physical Disabilities sat down and prayed to express gratitude to the Minister of Social Affairs while shedding tears.

The distribution of social assistance is carried out under the instruction of the President, as well as the Ministry of Social Affairs as the COVID-19 Handling Task Force to provide Social Safety Network (JPS) assistance to vulnerable groups.

The Minister of Social Affairs did not forget to give his appreciation to the centers owned by the Ministry of Social Affairs which have served beneficiaries very well, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister also conveyed his gratitude to the DKI Provincial Social Service and the Social Service Office for the synergy of services with the TPS at 5 Sports Centers in DKI Jakarta.

The condition of the beneficiaries is very vulnerable and in need of attention. Previously, it was also difficult, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s getting more and more difficult. But at the very least, TPS can provide good services in the form of temporary housing services and the provision of basic necessities.

"You can't stay here too long, everyone. If you stay here for too long, it will continue to be a problem. At least there is a temporary place to live instead of on the streets," said the Minister 

The Social Affairs Minister also greeted other Beneficiaries, such as victims of layoffs and homeless people who were present in the hall of the Jakarta "Mulya Jaya" Center. "Keep up the spirit, everyone, I hope you stay comfortable here," he said.

At the end of the visit, the Minister reviewed all facilities and infrastructure at the "Mulya Jaya" Center, including the skills room, polyclinic room, and showroom resulting from skills training and boarding facilities accompanied by the Director General of Social Rehabilitation and the Head of the Center.

The Minister of Social Affairs asked the Director General of Social Rehabilitation to continue to develop services for vulnerable groups by reviewing or combing through social problems and then reporting them with accurate data.

In his report, the Director General for Social Rehabilitation said that currently 1,147 people have been handled at the North Jakarta, South Jakarta, Central Jakarta, West Jakarta, and East Jakarta Sports Center. Meanwhile, 136 people were referred from Sports Center to social rehabilitation centers.

"The efforts that have been made are to optimize and maximize the function of the center in providing services to neglected residents due to COVID-19," he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Anna Silvia (43), a resident of Jatiwarna, Pondok Gede, Bekasi, before the COVID-19 outbreak worked as a medical equipment seller. Fate says differently, with the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB), the business has stalled.

"Before COVID-19, I was selling medical equipment but it was stalled, plus there was a PSBB policy so that there was no way of doing business at all. Until finally I really didn't have any money to pay for the rent," said Anna, teary-eyed.

But she was lucky, that night when she ran out of money to go home, assisted by a Satpol PP (Civil Service Police Unit) who told her to go to the social agency in Matraman just to ask for help, and finally she was referred to Mulya Jaya Center.

"Alhamdulillah, I have been living here for a week. I would like to convey my gratitude to the Minister of Social Affairs and the Head of the Center, even getting social assistance. I am grateful that when I was in a state that had nothing, now there is attention from the government," she said.

The "Mulya Jaya" Center previously handled Persons with Social Disabilities, Migrant Workers Violence Victims, and Human Trafficking Victims.

Social rehabilitation services consist of social assistance with purposes, in the form of Business Capital Social Assistance, Business Development Capital Social Assistance, and Self-Reliance Social Assistance.

For therapy services, there are physical therapy, mental spiritual therapy, psychosocial therapy, livelihood therapy (Salon, Sewing, Batik, Handicrafts, and Culinary), as well as family support social care (Parents Meeting and Home Visit).

Meanwhile, other programs include Case Response, Outreach, Client Advocacy, Public Complaint Services, and Emergencies.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the "Mulya Jaya" Center provided self-quarantine services for 108 Migrant Workers from Malaysia and have now been returned to their areas of origin, providing 50 packages of basic food assistance for pre-prosperous people around the center, Temporary Shelter Services for Social Welfare Services Recipient (PPKS), and Abandoned and Layoff Victims in the Jabodetabek area.

In the current condition, the number of clients who have been handled is 72 people and have been returned to their families as many as 50 people, and 22 people who still live in the center. In the Minister of Social Affairs’ visit, also attended the Head of Social Rehabilitation of DKI Province Social Service, Director of Social Rehabilitation for the Elderly, Director of RTS and KPO, the Head of the District Police of Pasar Rebo, and Social Workers.