Emergency PPKM Plan; Business Players Ask for Govt Stimulus

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government must support business players if the emergency public activity restriction or emergency PPKM or PPKM Darurat is imposed, argued the Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Economic Zone Development, Sanny Iskandar.

One form of support is a stimulus that is expected to help business continuity. "At least there is stimulus. They (business players) must support their employees and such,” said Sanny when contacted by Tempo on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.

Sanny said this Covid-19 restriction would cause an impact on the business sectors, especially those providing services related to public mobility. The tourism and transportation industries, for example, will be under increasing pressure due to tightening activities.

Companies operating in other sectors, such as conventional retail, are also predicted to experience weakening performance. The condition will be different from online retail as the digital-based industry is still forecasted to grow.

Other than providing stimulus, the government is also asked to pay attention to sectors that must undergo work adjustment as carried out during the enforcement of the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), such as the manufacturing industry. Companies in the industrial area, Sanny added, need to adjust employees’ work shifts to anticipate crowds.

The government reportedly planned to announce the enforcement of the emergency PPKM on Tuesday, June 29. The scenario of the policy was said to be similar to the PSBB. This policy was designed due to the explosion of Covid-19 cases within a week. The peak occurred on June 27, with more than 21,000 new cases.

Read Also: Reports Say Jokowi Will Enforce 'PPKM Darurat'

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA