President Jokowi Encourages Ministries/Institutions to Create Labor Intensive Projects in Villages
President Jokowi, accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, leads a Limited Meeting, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Friday (3/11) afternoon. (Photo: JAY/PR)
In order to provide more jobs opportunities as well as to absorb more employment in the regions, President Joko Jokowi Widodo asks Ministries or Institutions that have programs in these areas to plan well their programs.
So that the programs will give positive impacts and they can also be used to alleviate poverty and open more jobs, the President said when delivering his introductory remarks at a Limited Meeting on Optimalization of Job Opportunities at Villages (Intensive Labor), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Friday (3/11) afternoon.
Previously, the President mentioned that several ministries, such as Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Tourism have programs in the villages. The programs are labor intensive, implement cash-for-work activities, and the people involved in the programs are doing it voluntarily.
The President emphasizes that the flow of fund in the regions or villages must be able to provide more jos opportunities and alleviate poverty. Therefore, the labor intensive projects as well as cash for work activities can be implemented for short-term physical infrastructure development.
The President also asks to use Village Fund to develop several leading sectors that can drive the economy and provide more job opportunities in a number of sectors, for example small and medium industries, agrobusiness, fish cultivation, etc. The President also reminded to give more trainings and mentorings so that people can develop potentials in their regions.
In order to optimally drive the economy in the villages, the President also asks not to burden the apparatus as well as the people in the villages with administrative things. There are still complaints about it, the President said.
The President reminded not to waste time and mainly focus on these administrative things, for example the Financial Accountability Letter (SPJ). Therefore, a system must be established to make the process more simple. More simple is better. However, controlling from other supervisory agencies, for example Financial and Development Supervisory Board (BPKP), must be enhanced, the President said.
The Limited Meeting was also attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of Villages, Underdeveloped Regions, and Transmigration Eko Sanjojo, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Manpower Hanif Dhakiri, Minister of National Development Planning/ Head of National Development Planning Agency Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya, Minister of State Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, and Head of Creative Economy Agency Triawan Munaf.
(FID/SM/JAY/ES)(MMB/YM/Naster)
