The State fails to provide protection for the people.
Exterminate Corona and Cancel Omnibus Law.
At the end of 2019 the world was shocked by the presence of “newcomers” who stirred the entire planet Earth, the Corona Virus or commonly known as CoVid-19. Wuhan was reported as the first area of the corona virus outbreak having a fairly high and rapid transmission rate, reaching almost the whole city affected by this virus with the lockdown of the city as an anticipation step of further widespread transmission.
Initially there were only 7 people diagnosed with CoVid-19 and then it was transmitted to various countries in the world which today has reached 331,273 cases in 198 countries, mortality reached 21,174 people. The highest number of cases is still recorded in China having 81,397 cases, followed by Italy with 74,386 cases, and the US as many as 65,527 cases. In terms of mortality, the largest number is in Italy, with 5,476 cases. The number exceeds the mortality rate which occurred in China, which are 3,265 cases. Indonesia is not necessarily free from the conditions of the Corona virus outbreak.
With the outrageous number and the outbreak accumulation which was rapidly transmitted, hence some countries took quick actions in preventing corona virus outbreak, one of which is a lockdown in corona red zone such as China, Italy, Iran, France, the Netherland, Malaysia, USA, India, and many more. The most appropriate action to reduce the transmission of the corona virus outbreak.
Thus, it should be well realized that every country implementing an open political economic activity especially as this pandemic epicentre is in China which is one of the country that holds global economic control, the potential for Corona virus to transmit or spread to various countries is certainly soaring. There are many interactions in various forms between countries, people between people; this really accommodates CoVid-19 to spread all over the world. However, instead of being aware and immediately anticipating, they looked relaxed, underestimated it, as if the Corona outbreak will not enter their territory, we eventually witnessed hundreds of thousands of people lying in hospitals, tens of thousands of people died since up to this very moment the vaccine/special drug to treat Corona has not been found yet.
Each affected country looks like losing its consciousness, including Indonesia, which is one of China’s economic partners. Not only with China but also with European countries and other countries, the inflow and outflow of goods and people are certainly immensely high, thus with a low level of vigilance, an inappropriate and loose anticipation mechanism for the CoVid-19 outbreak, it surely enters Indonesia. Evidently, the transmission is quite rapid and began to transmit evenly in various regions. This means if Indonesia realizes this with its political will, its transmission may not transmit rapidly and panic hysteria does not emerge as it is happening these days. Yes…everything has happened.
As a matter of fact, the CoVid-19 case keeps rising on a daily basis, this outbreak not only threatens our health, but also has a domino effect to various sector. While the government readiness in facing this outbreak is still limited, from the readiness of medical devices, health workers, and hospital facilities which are also limited, to the readiness of handling economic breakdown.
In handling this outbreak, the State issued a number of policies, many of which are technical and partial, do not grasp the basic aspects of handling outbreaks thoroughly. It was evidently clear when there was a surge in cases, hospitals, medical devices, medical workers were limited and not ready as soon as possible. The State was also indecisive whether to implement lockdown or not, when lockdown is not implemented, how to anticipate this, and vice versa. Eventually, the CoVid-19 transmission happens faster than the readiness of handling it, in fact the government issued more appeals rather than strategic plans in handling this problem.
The people are encouraged to take care of their health, by wearing masks and diligently washing hands with soap or antiseptic, while the government is unable to provide only for a mask, antiseptic and moreover unable to control the hoarders who take multiple times profits in the midst of the outbreak-up to this very moment.
The people are asked to work from home or not to leave the house, while the government has no gut to order every company to dismiss its workers/labourers with full salary. The people were asked not to leave the house, avoid the crowd, whereas the government does not think about how the people fulfil their daily needs, instead the House of Representatives discusses the Omnibus law Bill and is still executing eviction of farmers’ land. The people are forbidden to leave the house, but their companies do not grant time-off, if the workers do not come to work, they will be counted as defaulters, get no payment, while 5 days absent in a row is considered resigning without getting severance pay.
The government once again partially answered for the labours / workers; through the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia issued a Circular Letter of the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Number M/3HK.04/III/2020 concerning Labour/ Worker Protection and business continuity in order to prevent and control CoVid-19. The company was asked to prevent the transmission of CoVid-19, while the company did not provide the Ministry of Health’s standard medical infrastructure, so far it appears that the company only provided a measuring device temperature. Whereas for companies that reduce activities and/or close all company operations, wage rates are negotiated, this point becomes a gap for companies not to pay workers’ wages when closed. Once again this is only an appeal, just a reminder that the Law was violated, moreover when it only a circular letter level.
For application-based transportation service workers such as GOJEK, GRAB and others through the president’s speech that we witnessed in the media, they are asked to be calm since credit instalments are suspended a year, then how about their daily needs, where they can fulfil it? For farmers and fishermen are also asked to stay at home, don’t leave the house if it is not important, how they can fulfil their needs? Waallahhualam bisawab.
Besides that, the government in order to implement social distancing appeal (to keep one’s distance), through the Ministry of Transportation, the government limits public transportation such as buses and trains, especially Commuter Rail System (KRL), but workers/labours keep working, yet the government is not responsible on how the people are meeting the needs, then various appeals cannot optimally withstand the transmission of CoVid-19. All of these are partial, technical and seem like half-hearted politics, even though the CoVid-19 outbreak has affected all sectors and everyone without any restrictions.
In contrast to some countries, when the CoVid-19 pandemic has claimed many casualties, the British government provides compensation of 80% of the total salary of workers, the President of South Korea and his ministers deduct 30% of their salary for handling CoVid-19. Effective handling of CoVid-19 is also implemented by Vietnam and Singapore with very low mortality rates.
Whereas in Indonesia, the government seems to be half-hearted and shrouded in doubt to issue a strict, fast and targeted protection policy as an act of saving the people of the nation and state. The government is hesitant to issue a budget for the safety of the people, does not dare to act firm against entrepreneurs who do not follow the orders of the state. On the other hand, we are demonstrated by decisive action to disperse every crowd and even are feared by imprisonment. Meanwhile, the entrepreneurs who keep continuing their production activities and force workers to continue working are left alone. Are workers immune to corona? Does the worker have no family? Do all the workers live in the factory? Are there only hundreds of workers? Answer, sir! Don’t pretend to be asleep.
So far, the CoVid-19 pandemic keeps transmitting, mortality rates continue to rise, and data per March 25, 2020 stated that there are 790 people positive for Corona, 31 people recovered and 58 passed away. On the other hand, the global economy is experiencing a slowdown and the domestic economy is getting worse, as experts describe China’s economic growth for example, predicted to grow by 5.6% in 2020, while the effect on Indonesia is every 1% decline in economic growth in China, the Indonesian economy can be affected by 0.3%.
Furthermore, purchasing power will decline further, meaning that the crisis is deepening the threatening recession. Therefore, the CoVid-19 outbreak must be immediately eradicated in a focused and earnest manner. One form of sincerity is to immediately revoke the Circular Letter of the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Number M/3HK.04/III/2020 concerning Worker/Labour Protection and Business Continuity in the order to Prevent and Control CoVid-19.
Aside from formal workers, in the red zone CoVid-19, the most vulnerable infected people are informal workers, they cannot stay at home because they have to make a living to meet their family needs, and hence their mobilization is dangerous both for themselves as well as the people. Thus, the government must also wholeheartedly answer their needs, this way they can stay at home.
Based on the growing reality, WE FEDERATION OF INDONESIAN WORKER’S STRUGGLE (FPBI-KPBI)
DEMANDS;
- The Government is focused and wholeheartedly in handling and preventing CoVid-19 and cancelling and stopping the discussion of the Omnibus Law Job Creation Draft Bill.
- Give day off towards all workers temporarily with full wage guarantees and provide basic needs for non-wage earners while staying at home.
- Ensure the availability of CoVid-19 prevention facilities such as masks, etc.
- Provide free CoVid-19 tests for all people and imprison hospital owners who reject patients.
- Build CoVid-19 emergency integrated command posts to the RT/RW (Maternal and Child Health Services) levels throughout Indonesia.
- Control the prices of all basic necessities and imprison those goods hoarders.
- Revoke the Circular Letter of the Minister of Manpower and issue a Presidential Regulation concerning the Protection of the People in the context of preventing and controlling CoVid-19.
AND WE CALL FOR;
- Build international solidarity against CAPITALISM and Pandemic CoVid-19.
- Let’s Fight from Home.
Jakarta, 25 March 2020
Best regards,
CENTRAL LEADER OF
THE INDONESIAN WORKER’S STRUGGLE FEDERATION
