Various Problems May Hamper Fourth Batch of Preemployment Program

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

The training offered on the skillacademy.com page is related to the pre-employment card. Photo taken in Jakarta, Tuesday (16/6/2020).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — After a delay of almost two months, the registration for the preemployment card program will reopen soon.

However, a number of problems that have so far hampered the program have not been totally resolved, despite the revision of the government’s regulation in the implementation of the program, which provides unemployment benefit and skill training program for the jobless.

The chairman of the team for the job creation committee, Rudy Salahuddin, said in Jakarta on Tuesday that registration for the fourth batch of the preemployment card program would be reopened in the fourth week of this month.

The government is currently waiting for the results of audits conducted by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) on the implementation of the first, second and third wave of the preemployment training program.

“Several training institutions are under the verification of the BPKP. We hope the verification works can be completed this week, together with the issuance of new implementation regulations. So, we hope registration can be reopened in the fourth week of July,” Rudy said.

They are among the 680,000 people who have so far taken part in the free training program.

Workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic recorded in the Manpower Ministry’s data will be given priority to take part in the fourth batch of the training program. At least 1.7 million workers have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, but only 143,000 of them have joined the preemployment training program. They are among the 680,000 people who have so far taken part in the free training program.

Since it was launched on April 11, a number of problems have overshadowed the implementation of the preemployment program. In order to solve the problems, the government has revised a number of regulations, such as Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 76/2020 concerning the amendment of Perpres No. 36/2020 on the development of work competencies through the preemployment card program, which was signed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on July 7.

The regulation contains 11 changes from the previous Perpres. The Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister has also issued a series of regulations to support the implementation of the revised presidential regulation.

However, the executive director of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), Enny Sri Hartati, said the revision of the Presidential regulation would not be able to significantly resolve the problems.

"Indeed, the regulation needs a revision. The problem is that the third batch of the training program has been completed and the change in the regulation is not significant enough,” she said.

KOMPAS/KURNIA YUNITA RAHAYU

Elma Meika (23) (right) and Juliana (24) (left) work on training in the lobby of the Mulya Jaya Social Rehabilitation Hall, East Jakarta, Tuesday (25/5/2020).

The problems that have received wide attention from the public include the appointment of digital platforms for the online training, which was carried out directly without an auction as normally conducted in the procurement of goods and services for the government.

Such a problem was addressed through Article 31A of Perpres No. 76/2020, which stipulates that the provision and the selection of digital platforms is not ruled by the regulation on the procurement of government goods and services, but it has to take into account the principles of fairness and ethics.

The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said the regulation legalized the direct appointment of digital platforms without a proper auction mechanism as stipulated in Presidential Regulation No. 16/2018 on the procurement of government goods and services. According to ICW researcher Wana Alamsyah, the revision of the presidential regulation had the potential to create new problems.

If they do not return the money within 60 days, the manager of the program will file a claim for compensation.

Enny said the revision seemed to put the blame on the participants. Article 31C of the revised presidential regulation stipulates that participants who do not meet the requirements but have already received assistance in the form of training costs and incentives are required to return the money to the state. If they do not return the money within 60 days, the manager of the program will file a claim for compensation.

"The problem is how those participants could pass the verification process. It means there was something wrong in the selection system. So, why do only the participants receive sanctions such as by returning the money? "she said.

The budget for the preemployment card program is distributed to training institutions as training fees and to participants as incentives. However, the revised presidential regulation does not regulate the accountability of the fees given to training institutions and the commission fees given to digital platforms.

According to the secretary of the coordinating economic minister, Susiwijono, the revised presidential regulation accommodated suggestions and recommendations from many parties, including the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Attorney General\'s Office, BPKP, the police and the Government Goods and Services Procurement Policy Agency.

Some of these institutions are now included in the job creation committee, which is under the coordination of the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister.

"We want to ensure that this program is continued while maintaining aspects of program accountability and governance," said Susi.

Regarding the obligation of returning the money imposed on participants who do not meet the requirements, expert staff for regulations, law enforcement and economic resilience head at the Office of the Economic Coordinating Minister, Elen Setiadi, said the sanctions would be imposed on participants of the incoming batches of the program.

KOMPAS/HARRY SUSILO

Tohirin (39) harvests spinach planted by the hydroponic method at his home in Bekasi City, West Java, Saturday (6/6/2020). Despite the loss of income due to being laid off, Tohirin tried to remain productive.

The provision is included in the revised presidential regulation as a preventive measure so that the programs could reach the targeted recipients as well as corrective measures in the form of lawsuits.

"The arrangement is for the future. The regulation is not retroactive,” he said. (AGE