UNS – The effects of COVID-19 pandemic struck several aspects in Indonesia including the economic sector. There are some work termination cases reported in Indonesia. The employees were laid off without pay. The UNS economist, Lukman Hakim, Ph.D. stated that the COVID-19 pandemic can cause a recession.
“The global situation is indeed like this and it is predicted that if until the end of the year it remains this way, our economy will experience a recession. Growth can be below 1% or even 0%. But if the COVID-19 pandemic only occurs until June, then July (the economy) can be good, the economic growth for this year is estimated by the Ministry of Finance to reach 2.3%,” Lukman stated.
Lukman also stated that there had been several steps taken by the government in the context of handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The government has provided fiscal stimulus, which content (aims) to help overcome this situation with a social safety net. The problem of social safety net to this day is it is based on PKH or Program Keluarga Harapan, of which each poor household gets Rp. 600,000. PKH can be continued, (it is) good), but actually, those affected by this (COVID-19 pandemic) is not only the lowest group (in terms of income),” Lukman said.
Lukman added that the impact of COVID-19 will not only affect the lowest income group but also those with medium income groups such as those who have no access to trade and those who are affected by layoffs. Therefore, the government needs to provide a special hotline to collect the data, then to map them, and thus, the financial aids will be right on target.
“The way (to achieve it) the government has to prepare special hotline, for the groups like this to report to the government, to the social service, to the BPS (Statistics Indonesia) so that all data is recorded, then mapped, then the funds from Jakarta is collected to be distributed to them later,” Lukman suggested.
Besides that, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) can also take a role. If the database made by the government is accurate and solid, it will be easier for the future. Concerned community groups, NGOs and the campus movement can take part in this program.
Lukman stated that in the social media era like today, the data collection process will be easier to conduct. Many social media can be used, such as WhatsApp which is widely used. There are groups for each Rukun Tangga (RT) (lowest village structure) that can be used to maximize the hotline prepared by the government. After the person made a report, a special treatment is prepared according to the problem faced by the person and an applicable solution can be formulated.
In this hard time, the state should intervene directly. Many problems occur in the community. This is intended so that people are not just left alone and confused.
“The key is to be present; the state has to be present. Do not let the community being left like this,” Lukman concluded. Humas UNS/Zalfaa