Gov’t: COVID-19 Impacts on Workforce Less Severe Now

Chairperson of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN) Airlangga Hartarto delivers a press statement after a limited meeting on the Handling of COVID-19 Pandemic in Jakarta, Monday (24/5). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)

The impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on Indonesian workforce are now less severe, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto who also helms the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN) has said.

“Social indicators also show an improvement where the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has diminished on the affected workforce. Unemployment in Indonesia is down [to] 6.26 percent from the previous 7.07 percent in August 2020,” Airlangga said in a press statement after a limited meeting on the Handling of COVID-19 Pandemic in Jakarta, Monday (24/5).

Airlangga stated that the working age population affected by COVID-19 has decreased from 29.12 million people in August 2020 to 19.10 million people in February 2021. “That means 10 million [people] has re-entered the workforce,” he added.

The trade balance in April 2021 also recorded a surplus of US$2.19 billion. This surplus was caused by an export growth of 51.94 percent (year-on-year/y-o-y) and an import growth of 29.93 percent (y-o-y).

“This is a positive sign and cumulatively, the good trade balance from January to April recorded a surplus of US$7.72 billion,” AIrlangga said.

In an effort to recover the national economy, the Government also  implemented the National Economic Recovery Program (PEN) which includes the health sector, social protection, priority programs, support for MSMEs and corporations, and business incentives. Until May 21, 2021, the realization of the PEN Program has reached Rp183.98 trillion or 26.3 percent of the ceiling.

“There was an increase of Rp60.72 trillion from the first quarter realization of PEN of Rp123.26 trillion,” he said. (DND/UN) (FI/LW)