Ministry of Cooperatives states 4,741 Merah Putih Village Cooperatives completed

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Cooperatives has reported that from a total of more than 35,000 Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperatives currently under construction, 4,741 cooperatives have been completed 100 percent. Deputy Minister of Cooperatives Farida Farichah stated that although these 4,741 sites have been fully built, the cooperatives cannot yet operate as they still require support facilities. “Those that are 100 percent complete will gradually be equipped with necessary fittings and transportation tools, which are currently in the process of being procured,” Farida said during a press conference at her office in Jakarta on Monday. In addition to physical construction, the government is also preparing the workforce to manage the cooperatives. Farida explained that each cooperative is planned to recruit 15-18 workers to support operations, with positions including drivers, security guards, warehouse keepers, and other staff. She also emphasised that workers will be prioritised from the local community so that the cooperatives truly belong to the villagers. Furthermore, Farida explained that the government will also encourage the involvement of social assistance recipients (bansos) to work in the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives.