Some of the training courses, which are intended to upskill and reskill workers laid off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, sparked criticism from experts and businesspeople, as similar courses are available for free on the internet.

The government allocated Rp 20 trillion to cover around 5.6 million people in the program, with each participant to receive Rp 1 million to cover training costs, Rp 2.4 million for four-month living cost incentives and Rp 150,000 for job survey fees.

Read also: Only 200,000 of 5.9m applicants accepted in first batch of pre-employment card program

To provide the courses, the government has partnered with seven start-ups, namely online learning platforms Skill Academy, Mau Belajar Apa, Pintaria, Sekolahmu and Pijar Mahir, as well as e-commerce companies Bukalapak and Tokopedia.

However, Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) researcher Bhima Yudhistira said some of the courses were available for free on video-sharing platform YouTube, at campuses and on social media platforms.

“It appears ineffective and does not solve any problems faced by laid-off workers,” Bhima told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Here are some of the training courses provided by the e-learning platforms in the preemployment card program.

Skill Academy

The subsidiary of online learning platform Ruangguru is offering a course package for app-based motorcycle taxi drivers. The course, the cost of which has been reduced to Rp 1 million from the normal price of Rp 3.8 million, comprises materials on financial planning for freelancers, how to best serve customers, stress management to stay productive, time management and planning a retirement fund.

Other packages being sold for Rp 1 million include a package on how to develop micro, small and medium enterprises, which comprises training on customer service, online advertising strategy, how to advertise on Google Ads, how to start an online shop on Instagram, content marketing and writing training to boost sales.

Read also: Conflict of interest? Public questions government's relationship with start-ups

There is also a training package on “job applying technique during the coronavirus pandemic” that comprises courses on writing a CV, job interviews, building a portfolio and self image to apply for job, how to do presentations and correspondence and how to use Microsoft Excel.

Ruangguru also provides an English course and training on how to start a business for Rp 700,000.

MauBelajarApa

The online learning platform provides several paid courses, such as:

Online shop and how to boost sales (Rp 350,000).

Learn to be professional master of ceremonies (Rp 350,000).

How to make silky pudding (Rp 200,000).

How to start a career as a content creator (Rp 175,000).

Pintaria

Pintaria offers, among other things, an English course for online motorcycle taxi drivers that costs Rp 250,000 for seven sessions. Participants will get course materials, online exams, a report and certificate from the four-hour course. It does not offer a discussion forum, live online session or offline meetings.

Read also: Govt introduces new social benefits as 2.8 million lose jobs

The company also offers a four-hour course on how to be a successful merchant on e-commerce platforms such as Tokopedia. The course also equips participants with social media skills to promote their products.

Courses on sewing protective masks and how to be a beginner professional photographer, both of which cost Rp 600,000, are also available on the platform.

Sekolah.mu

Sekolah.mu provides courses as basic as applying for a job and English for workers that cost only Rp 50,000. The firm also offers courses on Microsoft Office skills, photo editing and e-commerce sales skills that cost around Rp 500,000, as well as a course on mosque management that costs Rp 295,000. 

The platform also offers courses that cost Rp 1 million, such as how to be an online seller, sell products via text-messaging platform WhatsApp Business and mobile phone photography. (prm)