In Fact, The Poor Adds A Lot, The Price Of Fuel That Increases To Mass Layoffs Becomes Biang Keror

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The number of poor people in Indonesia in September 2022 was recorded at 26.36 million people. This figure increased by 0.20 million people from March 2022.

So the percentage of poor people in Indonesia in September 2022 reached 9.57 percent or an increase of 0.03 percentage points against March 2022. However, this figure decreased by 0.14 million people when compared to September 2021 which reached 26.5 million people.

The number of poverty rates in September 2022 was influenced by various events, such as rising fuel oil prices (BBM) to termination of employment.

"Throughout September 2022, there have been layoffs in labor-intensive sectors such as textiles, footwear, and technology companies. This is what we have gone through in September 2022," said Head of BPS, Margo Yunowo at a press conference in Jakarta, Monday, January 16, as reported by Antara.

Of the 26.36 million poor people, it is divided into urban and rural areas. Compared to March 2022, the number of poor people in September 2022, urban areas increased by 0.16 million people (from 11.82 million people in March 2022 to 11.98 million people in September 2022).

In the same period the number of rural poor people increased by 0.04 million people (from 14.34 million people in March 2022 to 14.38 million people in September 2022).

"In September 2022, the number of poor people is still concentrated in Java and Sumatra, but only Sumatra Island shows a reduction in poverty by 0.02 percentage points. The increase in poverty occurs in all islands at most Maluku and Papua," said Margo.

The Poverty Line in September 2022 was recorded at IDR 535,547.00/capita/month with a composition of the Food Poverty Line of IDR 397,125.00 (74.15 percent) and the Non-Food Poverty Line of IDR 138,422.00 (25.85 percent).

In September 2022, on average, poor households in Indonesia have 4.34 household members. Thus, the average poverty line per poor household is IDR 2,324,274.00/poor household/month.

However, BPS noted that the economy in the third quarter of 2022 grew by 5.72 percent (year on year) or higher than the first quarter of 2022 which was 5.01 percent.

The open unemployment rate (TPT) also decreased in August 2022 by 5.86 percent or decreased when compared to the August 2021 TPT which was 6.49 percent.

"However, the encouraging news from manpower is the increasing proportion of full workers, where the trend of full workers increased from 64.30 percent in August 2021 to 68.46 percent in August 2022," he said.