Despite some improvements needed, Indonesia’s unemployment benefit helps laid-off workers during the transition period

The ILO continues to support initiatives taken by the Indonesian government to improve its unemployment benefit programme (JKP). Two workers shared their stories participating in the JKP programme.

Article | Jakarta, Indonesia | 26 September 2022
Agus Triyana
After working for seven years, Agus Triyana, 37 years old, had to face a reality of being laid off together with his 200 fellow co-workers last March. Due to the company’s efficiency and loss of profit, he had to lose his job as a producer and researcher at one of the media organizations.

I submitted my claim application to the JKP programme in May, after I received my job termination letter. The registration process was easy and within days I received my first cast benefit."

Agus Triyana
A similar laid off was also experienced by Supriyono, 40 years old. He had been laid off since December 2021 from his job as a graphic designer for six years at one of the survey institutions. He was laid off together with 24 other employees.

Feeling uncertain, both Agus and Supriyono gathered a feeling of hope when they learnt about the unemployment benefit programme (JKP) which is initiated by the Government of Indonesia to help the unemployed find job replacement.

The JKP programme was developed in 2021 under the Government Regulation No. 37/2021 on the Implementation of JKP Programme. Designed to help unemployed workers maintain their decent livelihood and find new jobs, the JKP programme combines three benefits: cash benefit for six months, vocational training and access to labour market information.

“I submitted my claim application to the JKP programme in May, after I received my job termination letter. The registration process was easy and within days I received my first cast benefit,” shared Agus. The same easy access was also experienced Supriyono who submitted his claim to the JKP programme in February.

Both of them shared their experiences at the seminar regarding expanding and improving the JKP programme conducted by the ILO and its social partners on 8 September. The ILO support to the JKP programme is given through its Unemployment Protection in Indonesia programme, funded by the Fast Retailing CO., Ltd.

Easy access to JKP programme

The website of the JKP programme
Since May, Agus has been actively searched for a new job using the website of JKP programme: siapkerja.kemnaker.go.id. To be eligible, he is obliged to send at least five job application letters to five different companies per month during the 6-month duration of the JKP programme. However, despite thousands of available jobs shown on the website, only a few jobs have matched his expertise and previous employment background.

“Most of the jobs are available outside Jakarta and I have to find other employment information from other information resources and channels. I cannot depend on the jobs offered on the website,” said Agus.

With improvements in terms of access to job opportunities, training programmes and job counselling, I believe that it will help people finding job replacement or improving their skills."

Supriyono
Supriyono also experienced a similar difficulty. He could not find jobs that matched his expertise as a professional graphic designer. “In addition, the response time from I first submit my application is too long, more than four months. It should be only a month or two months so that we can know our application soonest,” he added.

To increase his chance to find a job, Supriyono had been three times participated in the job counselling, starting in June. The job counselling is conducted online for 20 minutes based on appointment.

He admitted that the job counselling has helped him expanding his network and identifying his potentials; however, he hoped that the job counselling could be improved by providing direct connections to job providers.

However, none of them have participated in the training programme provided by 121 training providers in 24 provinces. Unfortunately, they said, training programme offered did not match their working background and needs. They hoped that the types of skills offered in the training programme could be improved and expanded.

Way forward to a better implementation

Despite some limitations, both Agus and Supriyono appreciated the efforts taken by the Government of Indonesia to help workers who lose their jobs like them go through the transition period before finding a job replacement.

Supriyono
“The JKP programme gives me hope and helps the job searching process that I have to do. The cash benefit also helps the job searching process,” told Agus. Feeling the same way, Supriyono said, ”The JKP programme has at least widened my networks and the cash benefit is really beneficial during the transition period.”

JKP set the policy direction right. A task in the coming years is to enrich support programmes so that jobseekers can find jobs quickly."

Christianus Panjaitan, Project Officer of the ILO’s Unemployment Protection in Indonesia
Christianus Panjaitan, Project Officer of the ILO’s Unemployment Protection in Indonesia, said the ILO has been supporting the Government of Indonesia in improving and expanding the JKP programme. “JKP set the policy direction right. A task in the coming years is to enrich support programmes so that jobseekers can find jobs quickly,” he said, adding that by supporting jobseekers, Indonesia could maintain its productivity in the era of global competition.

Agus is now in the last month of his JKP programme, while Supriyono has finished his programme last August. Although both of them are still looking for jobs, they are now more optimistic. They also agreed that the JKP is a good programme for the unemployed.

“With improvements in terms of access to job opportunities, training programmes and job counselling, I believe that it will help people finding job replacement or improving their skills,” said Supriyono who is now working as a freelancer graphic designer while looking for a permanent position. While Agus who is now a freelance teacher added that “The cash benefit should be maintained, while employment website should be improved.”