O Pak Jokowi, Entrepreneurs Ask For Opening Hours Of Malls And Restaurants To Return To 21.00

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) has asked the government to relax the Enforcement of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM), particularly in relation to the operating hours of shopping centers, modern retail stores, and restaurants.

Chairman of Apindo Hariyadi Sukamdani said that PPKM has an impact on the ecosystem. Therefore, he hopes that restrictions on community activities, especially operational hours after January 25, can be relaxed until 21:00 hours with a maximum dine-in capacity of 50 percent.

He said that the PPKM policy had quite an impact on the ability of business actors to maintain cash flow. With the relaxation of PPKM, it is hoped that it can improve cash flow.

"We hope that the implementation of restrictions on community activities, especially in relation to the operational hours of the sector, can be increased after January 25th. So it is not in this very limited condition. But it can be increased," he said in a virtual press conference, Monday, January 18. .

On the same occasion, Deputy Chairperson of PHRI in the Restaurant sector Emil Arifin hoped that the imposition of restrictions on community activities would not be continued. Because, this rule makes restaurant entrepreneurs even more depressed.

"I want to represent my friends at the restaurant to convey to the government that this PPKM during January 11 to 25, if possible, it will not be continued after the 25th. Because currently the restaurant's condition is very very bad," said Emil.

According to Emil, with 50 percent of the capacity of visitors to come to a restaurant alone, entrepreneurs still suffer losses. Especially when the PPKM was lowered its occupancy to 25 percent.

"Restaurant opening hours have been tightened from 21.00 to 19.00, this is what will really hit restaurant entrepreneurs. Especially restaurant entrepreneurs who are in malls who have followed health protocols and some have even implemented CHSE," he explained.

Emil said, if the PPKM was continued, restaurant entrepreneurs would have no other choice to survive other than terminating their employment or laying off employees.

"Because of this the impact, if this is the case, we will do another layoff for employees. More employees who are affected, more employees who do not enter. So that many (restaurants) are closed rather than maintaining (open with occupancy) of 25 percent," he said.