JAKARTA - The Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program run by the government of President Prabowo Subianto is considered not only to serve as a national nutrition fulfillment program, but also has the potential to become a motor for strengthening the employment and social protection ecosystem in Indonesia.
Social security observer Teguh Purwanto said the success of the implementation of the MBG would be determined by the quality of protection for millions of workers involved in the operational chain of the program.
"MBG is not just talking about free nutritious food. There is a large ecosystem in it, ranging from labor, distribution, public kitchen management, to the sustainability of social security protection," said Teguh in his statement in Jakarta.
He said that the program is projected to involve more than 25,000 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) with a total workforce of 1.2 million people throughout Indonesia.
According to him, this scale makes MBG have a multiplier effect on the employment sector, social protection, and improvement of national human resources (HR).
Teguh assessed that social security protection for SPPG workers is an important aspect to maintain the sustainability of the government's priority program. This protection includes work accident insurance, health insurance, old age insurance, to death insurance.
"If the employee ecosystem is well protected, then the quality of MBG services will also be better. Employees will feel safe and comfortable and have greater responsibility for the success of the program," he said.
According to Teguh, this approach is in line with the vision of human resource development in the Prabowo-Gibran Government's Asta Cita, especially in strengthening the quality of human resources and social welfare equality.
The man who graduated from the Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia and the University of New South Wales Australia also assessed the MBG Program as a strategic and important investment in the long term to improve the quality of the nation's competitiveness to a global level.
He admitted that he had personal experience about the importance of a nutritious diet from an early age.
Teguh said he came from a simple family, but his parents still tried to provide nutritious food with all its limitations such as vegetables, nuts, milk, tempeh, tofu, meat, fish and fruit to support children's growth and development.
"I learned that nutrition is very important in determining the quality of human resources in the future. When children are prepared from an early age with good nutrition, they have a greater chance to compete and develop in the future," he said.
In addition to having long experience in the field of social security, especially in the fields of investment, finance, strategic planning, change management, Head of Regional Office and risk management, Teguh is also active in various national and international forums related to social protection, investment, and employment.
He added, MBG can be a long-term investment by the government in building Indonesia's competitiveness towards the vision of Indonesia's Gold 2045.
"MBG is the first step in building quality and superior Indonesian human resources. This is not only a short-term program, but a sustainable national investment in the long term for a better Indonesia in the future," he concluded.
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