CITIZEN JOURNALISM

Data on BLT recipients is problematic, Mrs. Siti does not receive salary subsidies or other social assistance

By Ulfatur Rosyidah

Surabaya, Partnership. Mrs. Siti (52 years old), a worker at a factory located in the SIER (Surabaya Industrial Estate Rungkut) industrial area, complained that she did not receive a single salary subsidy during the pandemic. Even though he also did not receive any other form of social assistance. Mrs. Siti admitted that her membership as a BPJS Employment participant was also still active. The proof is, every month his salary is always deducted for BPJS contributions.

Mrs. Siti is a mother of two children who has worked for more than 25 years at factory A. During the pandemic, Mrs. Siti was laid off for 4 months due to government policy which limited the number of workers working. While she was laid off, Ms. Siti experienced a decrease in income because the company eliminated many allowances and bonus items. This of course makes it difficult for Mrs. Siti to fulfill her daily life.

"My children are already grown, the first one is studying at a state university in Surabaya. He needs a lot of money. Meanwhile, during the pandemic I didn't work (because I was laid off, ed), my salary was cut (I didn't get my full salary), I couldn't get salary subsidies, I couldn't get basic necessities, I couldn't get layoffs either. Where should I look for extra money? I'm old, it's already hard to find work," said Mrs. Siti to the Partnership when met at her boarding house in Kendangsari, Surabaya.

As reported by Tirto.id on August 27 2021, as many as 71,931 workers failed to receive Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU) or Wage Subsidy BLT phase III. Secretary General of the Ministry of Manpower, Anwar Sanusi, explained that the reason thousands of workers did not receive BSU was because they had received other social assistance.

Initially, BPJS Employment provided data on 1.5 million prospective BLT salary recipients to the Ministry of Manpower. However, the number realized was only 1,428,069 workers.

The rules regarding salary BLT are contained in Minister of Manpower Regulation no. 16 of 2021 concerning Guidelines for Providing Government Assistance in the form of Salary or Wage Subsidies for Workers or Laborers in Handling the Impact of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). As reported by Tirto.id on August 27 2021, as many as 71,931 workers failed to receive Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU) or Wage Subsidy BLT phase III. Secretary General of the Ministry of Manpower, Anwar Sanusi, explained that the reason thousands of workers did not receive BSU was because they had received other social assistance.

Initially, BPJS Employment provided data on 1.5 million prospective BLT salary recipients to the Ministry of Manpower. However, the number realized was only 1,428,069 workers.

The rules regarding salary BLT are contained in Minister of Manpower Regulation no. 16 of 2021 concerning Guidelines for Providing Government Assistance in the form of Salary or Wage Subsidies for Workers or Laborers in Handling the Impact of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In this regulation, it is stated that BLT salary recipients are not recipients of other social assistance from the government. Then Indonesian citizens (WNI), and working in areas that implement PPKM level 3 and level 4 policies. Then the recipient must be an active BPJS Employment participant.

"I don't know where the problem is, why I don't get a salary subsidy. Even though many of my friends who work in the same factory can get transfers of 1 million even though they also get assistance with rice and other basic necessities in the village," complained Mrs. Siti.