Indonesia expands rice and wage subsidies for low-income citizens

The Indonesian government is implementing several social assistance programs for the October to December 2026 period to support low-income households and workers.

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, announced that approximately 1 million tons of rice will be distributed to 33.2 million beneficiaries in deciles 1 through 4. Each recipient will receive a total of 30 kilograms of rice, allocated at 10 kilograms per month. This emergency measure aims to mitigate the impact of rising rice prices caused by crop failures during the dry season. Distribution is being facilitated through the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDKMP), though Perum Bulog confirmed that areas without these cooperatives will continue to receive aid through existing sub-district mechanisms.

Additionally, the government is planning a Wage Subsidy (BSU) program targeting approximately 13.3 million workers. The proposed scheme involves a monthly subsidy of Rp300,000 for three months, totaling Rp900,000 per worker. This initiative requires an estimated budget of nearly Rp12 trillion. While specific technical requirements and disbursement dates for this period are still being finalized, previous criteria included being an active BPJS Ketenagakerjaan participant with a monthly wage of no more than Rp3.5 million.