TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) was investigating an alleged monopoly in the pre-employment card program. KPPU spokesman Guntur Syahputra Saragih said his side had met with e-commerce platforms Tokopedia and Bukalapak—two of the program's partners.

The other partners, namely e-learning platforms Ruangguru, Mau Belajar Apa, and Sekolahmu will be grilled next week, while Pijar Mahir, Pintaria, and Sisnaker developed by the Manpower Ministry will be the next in line.

According to Syahputra, the program's establishment could be indicated to have violated the principles of fair business competition if there was no transparency in the selection of the eight digital platforms that became its partners.

“Because it means, [they are] managing the production,” said Guntur in a media online discussion in Jakarta, Friday, May 8. He added that all learning platforms should have chances to offer their training courses.

The government’s pre-employment card program triggered a polemic since only eight digital platforms were selected to join, providing more than 2,000 types of training on prakerja.go.id. However, the program’s committee clarified that the eight platforms were only for the initial stage of the program and more platforms will be brought in later.

Additionally, the KPPU is also monitoring the market share of one of the platforms that reaches 60 percent and looking into public complaints about a significant hike in the training rates of the programs.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO