Economist urges Economic Growth Task Force to accelerate stimulus programmes
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Executive Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios), Bhima Yudhistira, is urging the Economic Growth Task Force, which involves multiple ministries and agencies, to promptly accelerate and strengthen stimulus programmes to safeguard the business ecosystem and public economy.
Contacted in Jakarta on Friday, Bhima assessed that the task force is expected to expedite the implementation of policies that directly impact consumer purchasing power and business sustainability, particularly in labour-intensive sectors.
“The hope is that with this task force, which spans ministries and agencies, the priority will be on stimulus policy packages,” Bhima stated.
He proposed several concrete steps, including the provision of wage subsidy assistance (BSU) for six months, with the amount hoped to be at least 20% of the provincial minimum wage (UMP), to support workers’ consumption.
“So for Jakarta, which is Rp5.7 million per month, the BSU should be at least Rp1.1 million per worker, both formal and especially informal workers,” he said.
According to Bhima, the effectiveness of stimulus distribution also heavily depends on updating recipient data. Therefore, the task force needs to ensure an accurate database so that policy interventions are on target, including for the middle class, which is also seen as needing support.
In addition to wage subsidies, Bhima emphasised the importance of fiscal stimulus through a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) rates to maintain purchasing power.
“The Value Added Tax, if possible, should drop from 11% to 9%,” he said.
On the other hand, he believes the government also needs to guarantee the stability of energy and food supplies as part of the stimulus package. One crucial step is increasing fertiliser subsidies, especially amid rising fertiliser production costs such as urea, which could drive food inflation.
“Additionally, what needs to be promoted further is a 40% electricity tariff discount specifically for labour-intensive industries for six months,” he said.
He stressed that the stimulus package should be launched as soon as possible in the near future so that its impact can be directly felt by the public and businesses, which are currently facing pressures due to rising raw material prices, including plastics.
President Prabowo Subianto has established the Task Force for Accelerating Government Programmes to support economic growth enhancement, led by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto as Chair I.
The establishment of the task force was set through Presidential Decree No. 4 of 2026 on the Task Force for Accelerating Government Programmes to Support Economic Growth Enhancement.
Quoted from the jdih.setneg.go.id website on Friday, in the regulation, the task force is under and accountable to the President.
The task force has the duty to coordinate the acceleration of government programme implementation to support economic growth enhancement, which includes, among others, the Economic Package Programme, Economic Stimulus Programme, Government Priority Programme, Main Programmes in several ministries/agencies, and other programmes based on the President’s directives.
In addition, the task force is tasked with establishing integrated and collaborative strategic steps for accelerating government programme implementation to support economic growth enhancement, conducting monitoring and evaluation of budget realisation supporting government programme implementation, and establishing breakthrough strategic problem-solving steps that are quick and precise.