By: Burhanudin Alwi) *
Social assistance from the government will continue until next year, because the pandemic period is not over. Social assistance is provided not only to the poor, but also to private employees, unemployed and MSME entrepreneurs. Hopefully this social assistance can help people deal with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has provided social assistance in the form of food packages or money worth 600,000. Initially, this social assistance was planned to be given for 4 months. However, when the pandemic has not yet ended, the government plans to provide social assistance until 2021.
Airlangga Hartarto, Chair of the Covid-19 and PEN Management Committee, stated that social assistance is being given again to maintain people’s purchasing power. In the sense that when the people are given a stimulus in the form of money, it can be spent and it will increase the circulation of money. The country’s economy will improve because there is continuous activity in the market.
Airlangga continued, not only social assistance in the form of money will be given. But also the pre-employment card program, presidential assistance for MSME entrepreneurs, salary subsidies for private employees whose salaries are below 5 million rupiah. Also basic food assistance for the people and family hope programs. All this for the sake of distributing aid to all levels of society.
Minister of Finance Sr Mulyani stated that the total budget issued by the government reached 110 trillion. It is quite large, but necessary in order to reduce poverty. The value of cash assistance is reduced to 200,000 rupiah, as well as pre-work card and village fund (BLT) pocket money. However, it will be given until May 2021.
The people are looking forward to continuing the provision of social assistance because in addition to the pandemic not ending, the economy is also not very good. Even though in the era of adaptation to new habits, markets and malls may be reopened, the situation has not returned 100% before the corona attack. There are even stalls and restaurants that were forced to close because the situation was quiet.
The majority of shops are quiet because people tend to buy via online shops. However, if they are also exploring to promote in cyberspace, they must be willing to fight because the competition is fierce. Some even want to break the price in order to get lots of buyers.
Therefore, the provision of social assistance for MSME entrepreneurs should also be complemented by training to improve marketing knowledge. For example, online seminars on how to sell on the marketplace, how to brand the products being sold, how to market goods through social media and websites, and so on. Entrepreneurs become smarter and develop their shops.
If the pre-employment card program is extended, then great. Because there are still many unemployed people who need it. They are happy because in addition to getting pocket money, they also get knowledge from training that they can choose themselves. With the knowledge they get, for example copy writing or digital marketing, they can open their own business and absorb labor.
Even though the nominal amount of aid has decreased, the people still have to be grateful. Because the provision of extended social assistance is evidence of the government’s attention. The President is trying hard to get all Indonesian citizens to receive assistance, because not only the poor are affected by the corona storm. But also the middle class and even the upper class.
If the community receives social assistance, it must be used as well as possible. Don’t even sell groceries from the social assistance package. For entrepreneurs, the president’s assistance should also be used as merchandise. Do not even spend or buy things consumptive and tertiary needs.
The social assistance from the government that will be extended makes the community happy because it gets the government’s full attention. This social assistance must also be used as much as possible so that the economy runs smoothly. Pandemics hit almost all sectors, but we must remain patient.
) * The author is a contributor to LSISI
