Government Responds to 17+8 Aspirations by Creating New Jobs
By: Ricky Rinaldi
The government has demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing the aspirations of the public united in the 17+8 movement. The people’s demands for social justice, equitable development, and increased prosperity have been met with concrete steps, namely the creation of a large number of new jobs. This policy is designed to address public concerns about limited employment opportunities and is also part of the government’s strategy to encourage more inclusive economic growth.
The public’s initial focus was on the newly appointed Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, inaugurated in early September. In his statement, he emphasized that Indonesia has the potential for economic growth of between six and eight percent per year if fiscal policy is implemented appropriately. He emphasized that this figure is not merely an ambition, but a realistic target that can be achieved through a combination of effective budget management strategies, increased productive investment, and the sustainability of development programs. High economic growth, he said, will automatically result in the creation of millions of new jobs and increased public income.
He emphasized the importance of efficiency in the use of the state budget. Every rupiah spent, he believes, should have a dual benefit: driving economic growth while expanding job opportunities. Therefore, he encourages the acceleration of industrial downstreaming in leading sectors such as mining, energy, agriculture, and maritime affairs. Downstreaming is considered capable of generating added value for domestic products, thus not only increasing exports but also creating thousands of derivative industries ready to absorb the local workforce. Thus, the people are not merely spectators, but also key actors in the development process.
Beyond downstreaming, he also emphasized the importance of maintaining a stable investment climate. Legal certainty, infrastructure development, and business-friendly regulations are seen as key to success in attracting both foreign and domestic capital. He is optimistic that every new investment will directly translate into new jobs. Within this framework, he emphasized that the welfare of the people must be the ultimate goal of every fiscal policy issued by the government. With consistent and well-managed economic growth, the dream of meeting the people’s aspirations by increasing job opportunities is not impossible.
In line with this view, Minister of Manpower, Yassierli, emphasized that the government places the issue of creating and protecting the workforce as a top priority. He explained that the current world of work faces significant challenges in the form of digital disruption, changing industrial patterns, and increasingly fierce global competition. Therefore, Indonesia cannot rely solely on old, routine practices. He believes that breakthroughs are needed, what he calls “next practices,” or new practices that are innovative, adaptive, and technology-based, while remaining grounded in national identity. With this approach, the Indonesian workforce will not only be able to adapt but also become pioneers in facing the changing times.
In his statement, he emphasized that every national program launched by the government is always aimed at expanding employment opportunities. One flagship program that has received widespread attention is the Red and White Village Cooperative. This program aims to establish 80,000 modern cooperative units spread across Indonesia. These cooperatives function not only as savings and loan institutions but are also designed to become centers of local economic growth. The cooperative’s scope of work includes food distribution, logistics services, and the development of digital platforms to support village e-commerce. With this scheme, the program is projected to absorb more than one million new workers in the next few years.
This cooperative program has received a positive response from the community, especially in rural areas. Residents see an opportunity to increase their income without having to leave their hometowns. Village cooperatives foster local entrepreneurs, strengthen the competitiveness of artisanal products, and serve as a platform for sustainable economic learning. Thus, jobs are created not only in the formal sector but also in the informal sector and small and medium enterprises.
