Minister Susi Promises Equitable Welfare for Fishermen

Jakarta, InfoPublik - Indonesia Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry promised that welfare equalization program for fisherman becomes one of the top priorities in 2017.

This decision is based on evaluation of the the ministry’s performance in 2016. "We will make an effective government spending in order to increase social welfare. Thus, we need to optimize the implementation of 2017 programs," said Marine Affairs and Fisheries’ Minister Susi Pudjiastuti in Jakarta, Thursday (19/1).

Susi explained that according to the data from Indonesia's Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia’s Gini ratio in 2016 was 0.39 or declining from 0.4 of the previous year.

Despite the slight improvement, the Minister considered equalization process must be continued since 49.3 percent of Indonesia’s wealth is controlled by only 1 percent of the population.

Susi insisted that injustice in economic oportunity was present and thus affirmative policies should be taken to open up wider access to poor and marginalized people.

This measure falls in line with Indonesian President’s directives stated in the plenary cabinet session that ordered the ministers to work hard to reduce the income gap.

She also said the government must reduce budget deficits. Hence, her administration will seek the right target in the government's expenditures.

Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry targeted increased capacity of all fishing industry actors’ in Indonesia, both locally and nationally, particularly small-scale and medium enterprises fisheries actors.

"There should be no more special treatment for big fishing companies when the small fishing companies were made complicated," said Susi.

In addition to special treatment, Minister Susi also highlighted her ministry’s dependence on regional offices. She instructed her administration to go to the field to monitor directly, especially to obtain the transparent prospective beneficiaries’ announcement. (Translator: Siti Chodijah)