Entertainment Business Actors Demo Raperda KTR In DKI DPRD, Worried About Turning Off Their Business

JAKARTA - Hundreds of night entertainment industry players who are members of the Jakarta Entertainment Entrepreneurs Association (Asphija) and the United Jakarta Entertainment Employees Movement held a demonstration in front of the DKI Jakarta DPRD building, Jalan Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta.

They protested the Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) on Non-Smoking Areas (KTR) which was considered to have the potential to kill businesses and jobs in the entertainment sector.

The crowd carried a number of banners with protest tones, such as 'Not Cigarette Smoke That Is Dangerous, But Articles That Constrain Freedom', 'Healthy From The Pandemic Even Made Sick', To 'Smoking Law In Entertainment Places = The Death Of The Public Expression Room.'

The action took place with a command car used for alternating orientation by Asphija representatives.

The plan to ban smoking in entertainment venues regulated in the KTR Raperda is considered too stressful for business actors. Asphija assessed that the regulation not only had an impact on reducing turnover, but also had the potential to cause waves of layoffs (PHK) in the night entertainment sector, restaurants, cafes, and music performance venues.

"We are not an anti-regulation. We are ready to be regulated, as long as we don't turn it off. Do not let entertainment venues be considered enemies of the community, even though we are workers who also pay taxes," said Public Relations Aphija, Puri, at the location, Tuesday, October 14.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of Asphija, Gea, assessed that the government needs to take more realistic and fair steps in implementing the area without smoking. According to him, entertainment business actors have now been burdened with various obligations and increased operational costs.

"If abroad, entertainment venues are the last base for implementing an area without cigarettes. We are not ready. Entertainment tax is up 40 percent, song royalties have not been completed, now we want to be banned from smoking. This can kill businesses," he said.

Gea said the implementation of special smoking zones makes much more sense than the total ban. He warned that visitors could be drastically reduced if the rules were implemented without compromise.

* If you are prohibited from smoking at all, visitors can be drastically reduced. As a result, entertainment workers will be affected by massive layoffs," he said.

The same thing was expressed by Kukuh, another PR Asphija. He emphasized that business actors do not reject efforts to maintain public health, but ask the government and DPRD to open a space for dialogue before setting rules.

"If you want to arrange ventilation, table distance, or smoking zone, let's discuss it. But don't make unilateral rules that sacrifice thousands of workers," he said.

Responding to the protest, the Chairman of Commission D of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Yuke Yurike, confirmed that the discussion of the Raperda KTR is still in its early stages and will not be ratified in the near future. He said that the special committee and the Bapemperda would open a hearing room so that all aspirations would be absorbed.

"They are worried because there has been no clear communication. We make sure that the special committee and Bapemperda will open a hearing room so that all aspirations are absorbed," said Yuke.

The PDIP politician emphasized that the DPRD and the DKI Provincial Government will look for a middle point between public health interests and the economic sustainability of the entertainment sector.

"There is no intention of turning off the entertainment sector. The government and the DPRD must find common ground so that business actors stay alive, but the rights of non-smoking people are also protected," he said.