Ombudsman Encourages BSU Data Verification To Reduce Distribution Failure

RI Ombusman Assistant Ichwan Aulia (second left) and RI Ombudsman Member Robert Na Endi Jaweng (right) at a press conference (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ombudsman encourages the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) to carry out a strict verification process on the data on prospective recipients of Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU) to minimize payment failures such as the distribution in the previous year.

"The Ombudsman's view regarding the Ministry of Manpower is to verify the data of prospective BSU recipients so that there are no more invalid, double and or not eligible data," said Assistant Ombusman RI Ichwan Aulia at a press conference related to monitoring THR and BSU payments in Jakarta, Antara, Friday, 22 April.

In particular, he highlighted, in the BSU evaluation conducted by the Ombudsman, he found that in 2021 there were 758,327 data failed to receive BSU out of a total of 8,283,364 prospective recipients.

In 2022, the government through the Ministry of Manpower is planned to distribute BSU to 8.8 million people, for that it is necessary to take steps to minimize default data.

He also hopes that related to data problems for prospective BSU recipients, the government can confirm so that BSU can be distributed.

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia also encourages affirmations for laid-off workers and BPJS Employment participants who are in arrears in contributions due to factors from the employer, and are unable to receive BSU.

"Furthermore, PMIs who are laid off or repatriated, non-formal workers or BPU (Not Wage Recipients) have independent contributions so that they can also be included in BSU recipients," he said.

On this occasion, RI Ombudsman Member Robert Na Endi Jaweng also expressed his hope that the government could distribute BSU more inclusively by expanding distribution to workers who have not been BPJS Employment participants and informal workers.

He said that both workers have been registered with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, which is the basis for BSU distribution data, and those who have not become participants share the impact of the pandemic on the economy.

"If the government's goal is to ensure that their purchasing power increases and then consumption levels move, there should be an expansion of membership or an expansion of beneficiaries," said Robert Na Endi Jaweng.