Luhut Wants the Essential Sector Don't Neglect Health Protocols: I Don't Want More Positive Cases Of COVID-19 Due To The Delta Variant

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, asked all parties not to be careless and disciplined in carrying out health protocol trials in the essential and domestic sectors amid easing policies in the implementation of restrictions on community activities (PPKM).

In a Coordination Meeting related to the Testing of Health Protocols in the Essential and Domestic Industry Sector with several ministers, regional heads, and related elements virtually in Jakarta, Wednesday 18 August, Luhut said according to the latest Inmendagri 34/2021 that currently there are 268 companies registered with the number of employees reached 448 thousand people.

"Companies on the list and employees are required to use the Care Protect application to conduct screening (tracking). The Ministry of Industry and the Regional Government should be able to supervise the implementation of this trial. It is hoped that the ranks in the regions, regents/mayors, police chiefs, and Dandim can support the pilot program this health protocol", he said in a written statement, quoted from Antara, Thursday, August 19.

Luhut explained that the current condition has indeed improved compared to some time ago. However, he asked all parties to be careful and not be careless in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, including in the implementation of the Health Protocol Trial in the Essential and Domestic Industry Sector later.

"I don't want it anymore because of our carelessness and indiscipline, later this delta variant will rise again, I beg you to pay attention. I have asked Kominfo and Telkom to pay attention to the ability to Care for Protect this application so that the application can run properly", he explained.

In addition, Luhut said that the situation in several areas had improved from all aspects, whether the addition of daily cases had decreased, the recovery rate was high, and others.

This can be seen in the Jabodetabek, Greater Bandung, and Greater Semarang areas. He considered that this achievement could be achieved thanks to the cooperation and hard work of all parties involved in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

In line with that, the Java-Bali PPKM Coordinator also asked the ministry or agency to pay attention and examine the types of industries that could be opened for proposals. Therefore, his party together with the Ministry of Industry will conduct an evaluation.

"Later we and the Ministry of Industry will evaluate it", he added.

Luhut also thanked all parties involved in handling this pandemic and asked to continue to maintain and improve it. However, vaccination should be carried out for all industrial workers.

"We have had a meeting to care about protecting the server moving to the Ministry of Communication and Information so that it is no longer slow and can be used better", concluded Luhut.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said that in the Java and Bali regions there were 17,833 Operations and Mobility of Industrial Activities (IOMKI) holders.

However, after the issuance of the Minister of Industry Circular No. 3/2021 concerning Operations and Mobility of Industrial Activities (IOMKI) during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 11,976 IOMKI holders.

"Because they did not comply with health protocols and committed other violations", Agus explained.

Minister of Industry Agus explained that related to companies conducting trials of Health Protocols in the Essential and Domestic Industry Sector during the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) the rules had been determined.

Therefore, companies and employees are required to use the Peduli Protect application, all companies participating in this trial must follow the Prokes reference by the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Health.

"The Ministry of Industry and the Regional Government carry out supervision. Registered companies have committed to follow and use the care to protect the application", he said.

In addition, he explained regarding workers who do not want vaccines, action will be taken and confirmed that as long as vaccines are available, all workers must vaccinate.

"Companies participating in the trial and the number of workers per city/district total 268 companies (98 labor-intensive industries) with a total of 448,505 workers. A total of 69 percent of the total workforce who will carry out the trial have carried out the first dose of vaccination", he explained.