TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Market Vendor Association ("Association") recorded that around 5 million market vendors were forced to close down their business during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the lack of customers. The number is equal to 43 percent of the total number of traditional market vendors, which is 12 million.

"The remaining 6.7 million or 57 percent of vendors still in operation, but experienced approximately 70 to 90 percent of revenue decrease compared to normal condition," said Badrussalam, Chief of Research and Development Studies of Central Executive Board of the Association on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

The spreading of Covid-19 in Indonesia, which has been ongoing for more than a year, presents serious repercussions for traditional market vendors in many regions. The condition of the sector, which role is to maintain economic sustainability, is highly concerning and even nearly collapsed as Covid-19 cases surge with the appearance of the new Delta variant.

As a result of the surge, the government decided to impose the Public Activities Restriction Enforcement("PPKM Darurat") from July 3 to July 20, 2021. The government even considering extending the period until the end of July 2021.

Badrussalam explains that this would mean a full month of economic activities restriction. Such condition will further impair the activity of traditional market vendor. Since the first occurrence of the pandemic, the Association records 1,998 market vendors who have been declared Covid-19 positive. These vendors are from 333 markets in various regions.

The number of market vendors infected with Covid-19 may potentially increase. Therefore, the Association called for serious efforts from the government to mitigate the virus.

In response to the emergency condition, the Association asked the government to conduct a thorough evaluation on the implementation of PPKM Darurat. The Associationn hoped that the PPKM Darurat will not make market vendors worsens, and can effectively suppres Covid-19 infection rate.

In an effort to maintain the health of market vendors, Badrussalam said that the Association have worked with the National Police to accelerate vaccination process. However, he further explained that the Police will only provide supplies of the vaccines. Therefore, Badrussalam hoped that other parties can help to fund the vaccination process itself.

"And so does for medical workers, we expect they can join us and help with the vaccination program for market vendors by becoming volunteers for the market vendor vaccination program," Badrussalam said.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA