TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairperson of the Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI), Abdul Manan, encouraged mass media corporations to be open regarding COVID-19 cases within its workplace and journalists stationed in the field.

Manan pointed out the state-owned broadcaster Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) that closed its headquarters after three of its employees had contracted COVID-19. He said that it is important to help prevent a spread among journalists.

This, he said, is the corporation’s obligation to protect its employees and that media corporation must actively follow up on possible causes.

“It is contained in Article 86 of Law No.13/2003 on employment which states that workers have the right to be protected in health during work,” the AJI chairperson wrote in Thursday’s press release.

This comes not only because of the positive cases at RRI, but it is also due to the rumors that Abdul Manan heard regarding dozens of mass media workers that have contracted COVID-19 at a TV news station. However, he assured that AJI is still verifying the validity of that rumor.

Unfortunate news also came from East Java where there were reportedly two employees of state-run broadcaster Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) who died due to COVID-19.

AJI encourages filing a report to the alliance via email at sekretariat@ajiindonesia.or.id.

Read: AJI Receives 23 Complaints from Journalists on Coronavirus Layoff

ADAM PRIREZA