Minister Of Manpower Says BSU Has Been Distributed To 8.3 Million People

JAKARTA - Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli said Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU) had been distributed to 8.3 million recipients.

"The total we have distributed is 8.3 million people," Yassierli said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, July 7.

The Minister of Manpower said that the distribution of BSU worth Rp600 thousand has two distribution mechanisms, namely through state-owned banks/Himbara and PT Pos Indonesia.

He revealed that the distribution via PT Pos still takes about a week to the recipients.

"Yang belum itu sebagian besar (disalurkan) dari (mechanisme) PT Pos, dan ini memang membutuhkan waktu. Lalu sebagian besar itu kita salurkan melalui bank (Himbara) karena masih ada hasil verifikasi dan validasi data yang seperti kami harus cek ulang-ulang," ujar Menaker.

"We want to make sure that the distribution is right on target. So even though there is data, we have to check the account number, check (validation) from BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, then we confirm it with the bank, from the bank we check again the account number, okay, we make a payment order, and so on," he added.

On the other hand, Yassierli ensured that BSUs given to workers in need were not used for online gambling practices (judol), following concerns over the findings of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) related to allegations of misuse of social assistance (bansos) by recipients.

"It is beyond our control. This means that BSU is designed to increase purchasing power, and to those who have been actively registered as BPJS Employment contribution providers. I am optimistic that BSU is used for good," said Yassierli.

"I am optimistic that BSU will become something for workers to increase their purchasing power," he added.