JAKARTA: Indonesia is looking to review its large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) as many are not adhering to social distancing rules at work to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to The Jakarta Post, many non-essential workplaces were ignoring the PSBB rules and that people were still required to go to work, despite calls for social distancing for the move to be effective.
“Today, I ask for a evaluation of what we have done to handle Covid-19, especially regarding PSBB, with details of the ‘pluses and minuses’ so we can make improvements,” President Joko Widodo said at the limited cabinet meeting here on Monday.
There are two provinces and 16 municipalities and regencies whose requests to impose a partial lockdown have been approved by Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto as part of efforts to break the chain of transmission of the disease.
These are Jakarta and West Sumatra, while the regions include Depok, Bogor, Bekasi, South Tangerang and Tangerang of Greater Jakarta, Bandung and Cimahi in West Java, Pekanbaru in Riau, Tegal in Central Java and Makassar in South Sulawesi.
Jakarta was the first to impose PSBB for 14 days from April 10.
National Covid-19 task force chief Doni Monardo said the policy appeared to be effective but there were companies neglecting the social distancing rules.
“Where the policy has not been effective relates to activities in offices and factories that lead to packed public transportation services,” he said.
Doni, who is National Disaster Mitigation Agency head, urged stakeholders, especially employers, to comply with the regulations and follow through with the work-from-home policy.
The task force, in coordination with the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Ministry, will install closed circuit cameras in factories and conduct checks to push for a more serious implementation of the PSBB.
“If offices and factories continue to violate the provisions and do not meet health protocols, we will take steps ranging from warnings and reprimands to sanctions,” Doni said, while hoping regional task forces could be more assertive toward firms.
The regulations on PSBB require that workplaces, except those in essential sectors, be closed and implement work-from-home policies.
However, there are business operators who have not complied with the policies.
The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions recently said dozens of companies outside of the aforementioned sectors were still given operational licenses.