Indonesia to provide microloans for laid-off workers, housewives

The Indonesian Government has unveiled a new microcredit program (KUR) for laid-off workers and housewives who own micro-sized businesses to help them recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian Government hasunveiled a new microcredit program (KUR) for laid-off workers and housewiveswho own micro-sized businesses to help them recover from the impacts of theCOVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Coordinating EconomicMinistry’s deputy for macroeconomic and finance, Iskandar Simorangkir, thegovernment aimed to disburse supermicro KUR loans worth 12 trillion Rp (814million USD) to 3 million people by the end of this year.

He said at a virtual press briefing that heexpects this programmes, which will be launched by the end of August, can helplaid-off workers and housewives build their micro-sized productive businesses.

The latest data from the Indonesian ManpowerMinistry shows that as many as 2.15 million workers have been affected by theCOVID-19 pandemic.

The National Development Planning Agency(Bappenas) projects unemployment rate to reach between 8.19 percent and 9.2 percentthis year, significantly higher than 2019’s figure of 5.28 percent.

Iskandar further explained that the programmewould cater to laid-off workers and housewives who have had a running businessfor at least three to six months and have never received KUR loans before. 

Although the programme is aimed at helping thoseaffected by COVID-19, the government plans to continue the programme after thepandemic to encourage entrepreneurship, which is expected to contribute to thecountry’s welfare and economic growth, he said.

The Coordinating Economic Affairs Ministry’sdata shows that KUR loan disbursement reached 89.2 trillion Rp for 2.67 milliondebtors as of July.

The Indonesian Government has raised the KURloan disbursement ceiling for this year to 198.73 trillion Rp from the previous176.53 trillion Rp./.
VNA

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