Jakarta – The government continues to intensify various economic stimulus programs to maintain people’s purchasing power, especially amidst global challenges and increasing domestic needs. The programs will be rolled out until July 2025, with the main focus on transportation assistance, wage subsidies, social assistance, and support for the education and employment sectors.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, emphasized that this effort is already in the implementation stage.
“Just now, the meeting regarding the economic stimulus has reported regarding the implementation of transportation discounts,” he said.
Transportation discounts are one of the programs that are most quickly felt by the public. Train tickets get a 30% discount, plane tickets get a 6% VAT subsidy, and intercity bus tickets also get incentives.
It is hoped that there will be another one before school starts, so this can work, added Airlangga.
In addition, the government is again distributing Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU) to workers with salaries below IDR 3.5 million per month.
This BSU has absorbed another 11.46 million, so there is still a remainder of the target of 17.3 million, explained Airlangga.
The stimulus also targets labor-intensive sectors through the extension of the Work Accident Insurance (JKK) contribution cuts. The government hopes this step can reduce company operational costs and keep jobs safe.
In the area of social protection, the government has started distributing additional cash assistance of IDR 200 thousand per month to beneficiary families.
The thickening of social assistance will also be carried out soon because the spending budget has been received, said Airlangga.
Food aid distribution was also strengthened, including rice and other basic necessities. Meanwhile, educational aid was distributed to PAUD programs and schools under the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The determination of social assistance recipients is based on single DTSEN data, which has been verified by various agencies including BPS. Head of BPS, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti explained.
Of the 20.3 million KPM, 16.5 million have been verified by BPKP. Of that number, 14.3 million are in deciles 1-4 and have begun to be distributed, Amalia said.
With this step, the government hopes that economic recovery can be more fair, equitable, and on target until the end of 2025.
