Food And Beverage Entrepreneurs: Closing Shopping Centers When Emergency PPKM Doesn't Fit, Contagion Occurs At Home

Illustration. (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - General Chairperson of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Industry Entrepreneurs Association (Gapmmi) Adhi S Lukman said the extension of the Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) would burden the national economy because economic activities were also restricted.

"Actually, it is very difficult for the economy if the Emergency PPKM is extended," said Adhi, quoted from Antara, Monday, July 19.

Adhi said that business and industry have tightened health protocols (prokes) for their business activities, but from the reports received, Adhi said that the transmission to employees occurred precisely in the household environment.

"In the extension of the Emergency PPKM, we close shopping centers and so on, in my opinion, this is not appropriate, because this will disrupt the economy, because the actual exposure may not be there. All businesses have set strict procedures," said Adhi.

Even if the extension of the Emergency PPKM is enforced, Adhi hopes that the control will be focused on the household and living environment by moving the local Rukun Tetangga (RT) and Rukun Warga (RW).

"So PPKM Micro assigns RT / RW to work, while industrial and shopping centers, as well as offices that can indeed work, continue to work with strict procedures, for example by setting working distances to working hours or shifts," said Adhi.

Adhi added that as long as the Emergency PPKM is implemented, the capacity of the food industry will run normally to meet the food needs of the Indonesian people.

However, there has been no significant increase in production from the food industry since the Emergency PPKM was implemented. Likewise, the packaged beverage industry has become a basic need for the community, especially for COVID-19 patients who are self-isolating.

"Of course drinking water is needed. So far, food and beverage production is still normal. We also routinely report it to the Ministry of Industry through the National Industrial Information System Socialization (SIINas) platform," said Adhi.