Duh, High Soybean Prices Make Tofu Craftsmen In Jabodetabek Strike Production For Three Days, Threatening To Take To The Streets For Demonstrations

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Tofu and tempeh craftsmen in the Greater Jakarta area will carry out a production strike. The strike was carried out following the increase in the price of soybeans as the main raw material for making tofu and tempeh.

According to an official circular, the DKI Jakarta Indonesian Tofu and Tempe Cooperative Center (Puskopti) will carry out a production and trade strike for three days.

"So, we hereby inform all tofu and tempeh craftsmen throughout Jabodetabek to go on a production and trade strike for 3 days starting on February 21, 22 and 23, 2022," the circular said, quoted Friday, February 18.

The circular letter was signed by the Head of the DKI Jakarta Puskopti, Sutaryo. He mentioned that the difficulties experienced by tofu and tempeh traders had occurred since 2008. He assessed that this recurring problem shows that the government has not been able to find a solution to solve the problem.

"While waiting for what the government does, the current production strike demonstration is to increase the selling price of tofu and tempeh," he said.

Meanwhile, General Chairperson of the Indonesian Tofu and Tempe Producer Cooperative Association (Gakoptindo) Aip Syaifuddin said that initially the tofu and tempeh craftsmen who would carry out a production strike were only in the Greater Jakarta and West Java areas.

However, said Aip, tofu and tempeh craftsmen in other areas such as Bandung, Banten, Central Java and East Java also expressed the same desire, namely a production strike.

Five demands demo

There are five demands on the demonstration of the tofu and tempeh production strike this time. First, demand that the government lower prices and stop price fluctuations that are too fast.

Second, the price of soybeans is too high so that consumers of tempeh and tofu have very low purchasing power. Third, demanding that the government take concrete steps to overcome the turmoil that regularly occurs every year.

Fourth, the soybean trade system is handled by the government or the Logistics Affairs Agency (Bulog).

Finally, he stated that if the demands were not granted, the tempe and tofu craftsmen would take to the streets to stage demonstrations.