Economist: Pooling pocket money for internship participants is reasonable

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Economist from the Center of Economics and Law Studies (Celios), Nailul Huda, considers the plan to pool pocket money for participants in the National Internship Programme between the government and companies reasonable.

According to Nailul, this burden sharing is fair because in the first implementation of the National Internship, the entire pocket money was borne by the state, while the partner companies organising the internships also reaped productive benefits from the participation of fresh university graduates.

“Therefore, it is only right that there is a sharing of the pocket money portion with the companies that enjoy this labour capital. Their production output increases, yet they do not incur costs,” said Nailul when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday.

“So, in terms of programme governance, there should indeed be a share from the companies as well. The companies should already be benefiting,” he added.

In agreement, Executive Director of the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia, Mohammad Faisal, stated that the discourse on sharing contributions for the pocket money of National Internship participants requires strong discussion, dialogue, and coordination between the government and industry.

“Especially if the industry is also to be burdened with part of the stipend,” said Faisal.

Previously, Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli said he is examining the proposal regarding contributions to pocket money for National Internship participants, to be shared between the government and partner companies organising the programme.

“We are studying ways to involve companies more actively, so there is already a proposal that the pocket money should include a shared contribution from the companies, although not dominantly,” said Yassierli in Jakarta on Friday (24/4).

Furthermore, he stated that this consideration follows the intensive mentoring provided by companies to participants, which he deems quite measurable.

“And such commitment will be even better if we also request from the start a commitment from the companies regarding their contributions, and the obligation to provide competency certificates at the end of the programme,” he added.