Jokowi Allocates 5,000 Doses of Covid-19 Vaccine for Media Workers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said the government would prepare 5,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine for mass media workers and journalists at the end of February to early March 2021.

“When 12 million doses of vaccine from Bio Farma are ready, we will provide 5,000 doses for the media workers,” said the President in the commemoration event of the 2021 National Press Day at the Jakarta State Palace, Tuesday, February 9.

The government, he added, was still focusing on the inoculation of health workers, followed by community service officers.

He claimed he acknowledged many challenges faced by media workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, starting from health risks to welfare issues.

On this basis, the government prepared several incentives to ease the burdens, including the exemption from the income tax or PPh 21 for media workers until June 2021. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani had been asked to oversee the realization of the stimulus for the media industry.

“There is also a cut in corporate income tax, an exemption of import tax, and acceleration of restitution. These incentives will be valid until June 2021. The incentives given to other industries are also granted to the media industry, including the exemption of electricity subscription,” he outlined.

Jokowi further expressed gratitude to the mass media workers for maintaining the hopes and optimism of the public amid the difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic. “For helping the government in educating the public and helping people to obtain correct and valid information,” he said.

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DEWI NURITA