BLT Allocation For Cigarette Workers In Kudus Plus 4 Months

Cigarette workers in Kudus Regency, Central Java, showed the money received. (Illustration) (ANTARA)

KUDUS - Kudus Regency Government, Central Java, has increased the allocation of direct cash assistance programs (BLT) for cigarette workers from the previous two months to four months. "Initially, the 2023 BLT program was given for allocations in March and April. However, because some of the prospective recipients were also budgeted for the Provincial Budget, it was proposed to be increased to four months," said Head of the Social Service, Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning. Kudus Regency Agustinus Agung Karyanto in Kudus, Antara, Friday, March 31. Meanwhile, the value of the assistance, he said, is Rp. 300,000 per month, so that when it is given for four months, each worker gets a total assistance of Rp. 1.2 million. Meanwhile, the distribution is given in two stages, so that each worker gets IDR 600,000 for each stage. For the number of cigarette workers in Kudus Regency, he said, 77,135 people work in a number of cigarette factories in Kudus Regency. Of that number, he added, only 66,179 workers were identified or KTP Kudus, while from outside the region there were 10,956 workers. "Because the Central Java Provincial Government is also organizing the 2023 BLT program, some of the Kudus residents are proposed to receive similar assistance through the Central Java Provincial Budget and some of the Kudus APBD whose recipient names have been ratified through the regent's decree (SK)," he said. For workers who get BLT from the Kudus APBD, the number is 33,315 workers, while through the Central Java Provincial Budget there are 38,835 workers including workers with Kudus ID cards as many as 32,344 workers. Cigarette workers from Demak, he said, some of them were budgeted by the Demak Regency Government who also held similar assistance programs, a total of 4,985 workers. Although some workers receive BLT from the Central Java APBD, he said, it is also possible to receive four times for the period March, April, May and June 2023.

The disbursement of BLT in Kudus Regency itself is still waiting for a disbursement order (SPM) which is estimated to be distributed in early April 2023. Meanwhile, the budget prepared through the Kudus 2023 APBD is IDR 40 billion.