Gepeng Rampant In Badung Bali, Some Spa Workers Become Beggars Because Of Layoffs

Flat in Badung Bali (DOK Satpol PP Badung)

BADUNG - Kasatpol PP of Badung Regency, Bali, I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara said that since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an increase in the number of homeless and beggars (Gepeng). Until March the figure had increased by 15 percent compared to 2020.

Suryanegara said since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic now there have been 108 gepeng issued in the Badung Regency area.

"There are up to 108 more. This is the beginning of the pandemic until now. This means that there is an increase of between 10 and 15 percent from last year", Suryanegara told reporters, Tuesday, March 30.

Initially, Gepeng's control was carried out in the Kuta area, but now it has spread to other areas such as North Kuta and South Kuta. Most of the gepeng in Badung are children

"A lot, let alone another baby being brought under age. 70 percent are children. There are also a lot of buskers now", he added.

According to Suryanegara, the sprawling increase in Badung was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gepeng is also said to be using the mode of selling tissues and knick-knacks while begging and busking on the streets. But this was confirmed by Satpol PP (Public Order Enforcers) as prohibited by the Regional Regulation of Badung Regency Number 7 of 2016.

"That is not allowed either. There is a law on social order, it is not allowed, the threat is 3 months imprisonment or a maximum fine of IDR 25 million", said Suryanegara.

"When they were put in order, they reasoned with a difficult situation. The motive was not just begging. And I saw that the person was all that was all. The difficulty was, after we arrested there was no one who followed up on this", continued Suryanegara.

Suryanegara said, there was also a woman who was a former spa employee who became gepeng because she did not have a job anymore after being laid off.

"There is something I got a former job at a spa. She became gepeng because there is no job anymore", said Suryanegara.