VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Last weekend, the Government officially opened a registration for the Pre-Work Card program through the official website www.prakerja.go.id. The Pre-Work or Pre-Employment Card is for the  training cost assistance program and incentives for workers, job seekers, and micro and small business-people who have lost their jobs or experienced a weakening purchasing power due to the Corona-virus Disease 2019 Covid-19 pandemic.

The continued and widespread of the Covid-19 has made the government issue regulations that forbid people from gathering or leaving the house unless it is very urgent. In Jakarta, the provincial government has even issued a Governor Regulation No. 33 of 2020 concerning the implementation of the Large-Scale Social Restrictions in Handling Covid-19 pandemic.

The Governor's Regulation, which has been effective since Friday (10/4), regulates various activities in Jakarta City, related to the economic, social, cultural, religious, and educational matters. Certainly, this has an impact on economic activity or people's purchasing power. Declining purchasing power has resulted in the closure of several businesses and led to termination of employment (layoffs).

According to Minister of Manpower, Ida Fauziyah, there are currently at least 1.5 million workers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Of this number, 10 percent or around 150,000 people have lost their jobs, while another 90 percent are  still temporarily forced to stay at home or laid off.

To help them, the government then  launched the Pre-Work or  Pre-Employment Card program. Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto hopes that the program is able to increase the competence, productivity and competitiveness of the workforce, and can help  the cost of living amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The total budget provided by the government for this year is Rp 20 trillion. Each recipient of the Pre-Employment Card will receive a total benefit package worth Rp 3,550,000. These funds are  provided in the form of assistance with training costs of Rp 1 million. Then, there is the first post-training incentive worth Rp 600,000 per month to be given for 4 months with a total amount worth Rp 2.4 million. There is also an incentive after filling out an evaluation survey of Rp 50,000 per survey for 3 times with a total amount worth Rp 150,000. The assistance from the government can be used to purchase various trainings on the specified digital partner platforms.

The Indonesian government has prepared a fund worth Rp110 trillion allocated for social safety nets. This program is intended for the grassroots to remain able to meet basic needs and maintain purchasing power in overcoming the socioeconomic impact of the Corona Virus (Covid-19) outbreak. President Joko Widodo revealed it at a Limited Meeting on the Effectiveness of Social Security Net Distribution Program, Tuesday (7/4), through a Video Conference from the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

According to President Joko Widodo, the government has expanded the number of beneficiary families of  the Family Hope Program  from 9.2 million to 10 million. President Jokowi also said that he would increase the value of benefits by increasing approximately 25% and accelerating  distribution from every  three months to once a month. The government also increased the number of nine basic food card holders from 15.2 million to 20 million. The benefits were increased by 30% from 150,000 rupiah to 200,000 rupiah and  given for 9 months.

Specifically for Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi (Greater Jakarta), the Government is preparing a special social assistance program for 3.7 million families. The President explained, assistance for 1.1 million families was prepared by the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta, while for the remaining  2.6 million families by the Central Government for two months, according to the emergency response period stipulated by the Covid-19 Task Force.

In addition, the President has also ordered the Minister of Social Affairs to distribute 200 thousand packages of the Nine Basic Staples for the Greater Jakarta area and the Pre-Work or unemployed Cards starting April 9. The budget was raised from 10 trillion to 20 trillion rupiahs for  5.6 million  beneficiaries, especially layoffs, informal workers, micro and small businesses affected by Covid-19 pandemic.

President Joko Widodo requested that social safety nets to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic impacts be given quickly and right on target  to the people who really need it without any difficult bureaucracy.

Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia which has different tribes, cultures and traditions. One of the Indonesian tribes is Betawi. One of the Betawi’s traditions is Palang Pintu or Cross Bar. 

Palang Pintu tradition becomes an identity of Betawi people in Jakarta. The tradition has become part of wedding procession since long time ago. The tradition is combination between Silat, martial art and limerick which dominate the tradition. 

Until now, the tradition is still implemented by Betawi people, which is still strong in Islamic teachings. The tradition aims to test the seriousness of man to woman who will get married. To pass the test in Palang Pintu tradition’s test, there are two prerequisites which must be fulfilled, namely to win the martial arts and to fluently read the Koran.

Palang Pintu tradition was inherited from generation to generation and there is no historical note which explains about when and who created the tradition. The tradition is usually implemented when bridegroom arriving at the bride’s place.  

The tradition has some steps namely, Shalawat Dustur, requited rhyme, Beklai, and Lantun Sike. During the tradition implemented, the bridegroom will be blocked by Silat fighters or Jawara from the bride’s village. 

Then, one of the Silat fighters requests some requisitions. The point is to challenge fighting and reading Koran. Therefore, the bridegroom can be ensured having quality or not, according to them. 

Implementing Palang Pintu tradition needs 9 persons; 2 persons are Silat fighters from the bride side, 1 person from the bridegroom, I person as poem interpreter from each side, 3 persons as readers of Shalawat Dustur, and 1 person as Sike’s reader.  

Today, the tradition is conducted by people who are paid and usually called “Centeng”. The name of Palang Pintu comes from Betawi Tengah and Betawi Kota people, while Betawi Pinggiran and Betawi Ora call it as “Rebut Dandang or “Tepuk Dandang”.

MInister of State-owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir is committed to maintaining the State Owned Enterprises durability in facing the economic impact from Covid-19 pandemic. He did not deny that the pandemic will also affect SOE performance. In official statement in Jakarta on Sunday (April 5), Minister Erick Thohir ensured to prioritize workers, merge other businesses, prioritize efficiency, and strengthen cash flow. The Minister added that his side had started finalizing business portfolio mapping of all SOEs and subsidiaries. As the first move, he had downsized 51 subsidiaries of state-owned oil company Pertamina, telecommunication company Telkom, and flight service company Garuda Indonesia. The downsizing will continue but remains considering its workers.

SOE Ministry had mapped the SOEs based on business portfolio. The Mapping was based on public service economic value. According to Minister Erick Thohir, the mapping will decide the move and strategy for his ministry in deciding whether to keep, transform, consolidate, divest, or release a company. He hoped, the mapping and some efficiency measures done by SOE can anticipate the economic impact in Indonesia due to Covid-19. Minister Erick Thohir said some countries including Indonesia certainly face heavy challenges in economic sector due to the pandemic. However, he affirmed, Indonesian government keeps maintaining the national economy.

President Joko Widodo had taken initiative by issuing some regulations in safeguarding national economy amid Covid-19 pandemic. Besides that, Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo had affirmed the Bank Indonesia will strive to safeguard Rupiah exchange rate towards US Dollar. It was mentioned that those measures were appreciated by IMF Managing Director.