Impact Of The Prohibition Of Homecoming, Observers Of The Proposal For Bus Drivers Are Given A BLT

Illustration of a bus driver (Photo: By courtesy)

JAKARTA - Transportation Observer from the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) Djoko Setijowarno supports the government's efforts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic through a series of strategic policies.

However, he criticized the government's decision to impose a ban on going home this year after previously being allowed by the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi.

According to Djoko, the ban must be accompanied by concrete steps by the government to provide protection to the affected sectors. One of the things that he said was quite affected was the intercity and inter-province bus drivers (AKAP).

"I think the most relevant incentive for drivers is through the provision of BLT (direct cash assistance)," he told VOI, Monday, April 26.

Djoko added, on average, the judges were grassroots. This group tends to use the cash they have to buy basic daily necessities. So that the essence of BLT distribution will be increasingly relevant in moving the wheels of the economy

"BLT is important to reduce the impact of the pandemic they are experiencing," he said.

Furthermore, Djoko also encouraged the government to immediately provide incentives for bus entrepreneurs. This is because the momentum of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr is one of the main income niches that must now be given up for two consecutive years.

"The government also needs to provide incentives for bus entrepreneurs, such as relaxation of bus installments, ease of licensing, and tax deductions in the regions and retribution," he explained.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said that he was preparing a regulation on providing incentives for transportation business actors affected by the ban on going home during the Ramadan momentum this year.

"Regarding transportation and retail entrepreneurs, the government has issued through the Minister of Finance incentives to add working capital to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga in a virtual press conference last weekend, April 23.