Indonesia: Govt introduces new social benefits as 2.8 million lose jobs
The Jakarta Post (13.04.2020) Indonesia’s preemployment card program, a social safety net offering aid similar to unemployment benefits, saw an immediate spike in interest within a few days of its launch, as 2.8 million people have lost their jobs nationwide as a result of businesses temporarily halting operations. Just a day after the program was launched on Saturday, 1.4 million people applied for benefits worth a total of Rp 3.5 million (US$223) — to be given for four months — in the first registration phase, according to data from the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister.