SOEs Also Open Job Opportunities From Several Projects, The Biggest Is The Trans Sumatra Toll Road: 200 Thousand Manpower Absorbed

JAKARTA - The Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) said state-owned companies have played a role in helping the national economic recovery. One way to do this is by creating job opportunities for the community.

As is known, SOEs have opened job opportunities simultaneously some time ago. There were at least 2,700 positions opened at that time. This job opening is a breath of fresh air for people who have difficulty finding work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As a third of Indonesia's economic strength, SOEs should be the driving force of the economy and create job opportunities for the community. Especially in difficult times due to the current pandemic and global economic uncertainty," Erick said in Jakarta, Monday, August 8.

During the pandemic, continued Erick, SOEs continue to carry out development projects that create jobs in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of them are the improvement of the Balikpapan oil refinery or refinery development master plan (RDMP), which is estimated to absorb 19,000 workers.

Then downstream coal or low-calorie coal processing into Dimethyl Ether (DME) which is estimated to absorb 10,000 workers.

In addition, there is also the Freeport Gresik copper smelter project which absorbs up to 40,000 workers and the construction of the Trans Sumatra Toll Road (JTTS) which has recorded absorption of up to 200,000 workers.

Then the construction of the Mandalika SEZ where InJourney as the main organizer of the MotoGP International event was able to absorb 4,500 local workers and succeeded in ensuring that the surrounding community was not only spectators, but also involved from the construction to the holding of the MotoGP and World Superbike (WSBK) International events.

Erick said, SOEs also continued to increase the acceleration of people's economic programs such as opening up business opportunities and encouraging MSME businesses by developing Benoa port as a Bali Maritime Tourism Hub (BMTH) and developing Bakauheni Harbor City (HBC) which was conceptualized 100 percent to support the local economy in the surrounding area. .

"BUMN ensures the availability of jobs for the community in the midst of a pandemic, including the KUR and PNM Mekaar programs that help the people's economy," said Erick.

Erick said that the BUMN program was also present as a driving force for the village economy which would have a significant impact on employment, especially by medium-sized entrepreneurs and regional entrepreneurs.

Like Pertamina, as a state-owned company that has a mandate to provide fuel and LPG to all corners of the country including in the 3T region (Front, Disadvantaged, Outermost), has implemented two programs, namely Pertashop which is currently ready and has operated reaching 5,536 units and One Price BBM reaching 5,536 units. 348 points spread across 3T areas throughout Indonesia or PLN through the Village Entry Electricity Program managed to deliver electricity so that the ratio of electrified villages in Indonesia currently has reached 99.7 percent.

"BUMN projects and programs that are present in the midst of a pandemic have a positive impact in maintaining purchasing power and increasing public spending activities. As a result, household consumption continues to increase from -5.52 percent in the second quarter of 2020 to 5.51 percent yoy in the second quarter of 2022," said Erick.