There Are Still 5.5 Million Pre-Employment Cards That Have Not Been Distributed Until The End Of 2021

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto ensured that the Pre-Employment Card program to improve the skill quality of workers and create new jobs will continue with a target of 8.2 million recipients by the end of 2021.

"The target is 8.2 million pre-employment card recipients. This is the first semester of 2.7 million recipients. The program will continue to be carried out in the second semester," he said. With this number, it means that the government still has to distribute 5.5 million pre-employment cards until the end of 2021.

Airlangga believes that the Pre-Employment Card program has succeeded in producing tough entrepreneurs who can save the Indonesian economy during the pandemic.

"We hope that all pre-employment recipients can become candidates for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. So the graduation of the pre-employment card into new entrepreneurs and these are all over Indonesia, can help save the economy," he said in Jakarta, Friday.

Airlangga added that the recipients of this Pre-Employment Card have characteristics of being tough, persistent, and resilient which can be capital to rise from adversity due to being affected by the pandemic.

"From the testimonies given, some of them did not receive one registration immediately, some tried eight times, and then the ninth one was accepted. That shows extraordinary persistence," he said.

In addition, according to him, the government will continue to encourage Pre-Employment Card alumni to become new entrepreneurs by providing access to capital through the People's Business Credit (KUR) program.

"Of course we will continue to monitor pre-employment alumni. Of course, the opportunity is there, apart from banking, pre-employment also works with multi-platforms and this platform can also be an access to sell products made by pre-employment alumni," said Airlangga.