Through Partnership Program, Pertamina Empowers Labor Intensive Industries to Reduce Unemployment Rate

Jakarta, March 5, 2021 - The number of Pertamina's fostered partners continues to grow from year to year. From 1993 until now, the Pertamina Partnership Program has fostered more than 65 thousand micro and small enterprises (MSEs) from various sectors throughout Indonesia. The labor-intensive industrial sector is one of the strategic sectors currently being fostered by Pertamina.

Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of Pertamina, Agus Suprijanto, said that the labor-intensive industrial sector plays a vital role in employment. Therefore, it needs special attention so that this industry can continue to run and grow. "Pertamina continues to strive so that the owners of MSEs in this sector do not lay off their employee (Termination of Employment) and can reduce unemployment," said Agus.

The trick is to carry out intensive mentoring and coaching. This coaching is manifested in various programs to support MSEs in upgrading. Therefore, the business can continue to run and pay for the wages of its employees. "Of course, it can also increase the turnover of the business," he added.

Agus explained that, in 2020, there would be an addition of around 3 thousand fostered partners from all sectors. Meanwhile, for the labor-intensive industrial sector, there was an addition of 497 fostered partners. This number is the second largest after the trade sector, followed by livestock and other sectors. To become part of Pertamina's fostered partners, the public needs to complete the foster partner form on the Pertamina website https://pertamina.com/id/cara-menjadi-mitra-binaan-program-kemitraan. Then there will be process stages that needed to be passed, such as verification, survey, and more.

Pertamina fosters many industrial sectors—starting from the food and beverage industry, batik, apparel, footwear, children's toys, and many other types of industries where the industry empowers many workers from residents. Following the implementation of ESG in the social sector and the 8th point of SDGs, namely providing decent work and supporting economic growth.

One of Pertamina's fostered partners in the labor-intensive industry is Kgs. Bahsen Fikri. The owner of this Fikri collection business has around 50 songket artisans that he empowers. To maximize performance, Fikri also creates dormitory for employees who live far from the production centre and the shop on Jalan Kiranggo Wiro Sentiko No 500 30 Ilir Palembang. Not only that, but he also helps artisans who leave their products at the shop. "We also have about 20 weaving artisans assisted in Tanjung Lago Village, Kab. Musi Banyuasin," he said.

Another fostered partner in the furniture industry is Taufiq El Rahman. Owner of Exclusive Jepara Anugrah Furniture MSMEs in Dusun Tulungrejo, Kec. Pare, Kab. Kediri empowers 24 employees to help produce his wooden furniture. He is grateful that amidst the pandemic, his business can still maintain the number of workers. "Thanks to assistance from Pertamina, I can continue to run my business until now," he said.

"Following the spirit of Energizing You, Pertamina helps all its fostered partners to develop and be independent," Agus concluded.**