The Implementation Of The New Normal Protocol In The Workplace Is Not Right

Minister of Health, Terawan Agus Putranto. (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

JAKARTA - The government is still trying to run the economy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was proven after the government through the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) issued a Minister of Health Decree HK.01.07 / MENKES / 328/2020 which contains guidelines for preventing COVID-19 in the workplace.

In this guide, there are several things that employers should be responsible for with their employees. This includes providing a place to work that is safe and in accordance with government health protocols, including imposing physical distancing and always providing a place to wash hands or hand sanitizers in various places to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) researcher Bhima Yudhistira assessed that all these protocols must be accompanied by close supervision from the Health Office as the key to successful implementation. He even considered, the Health Office needs to carry out random checks to a number of checks to ensure this protocol is carried out by all companies without exception.

"It is important to carry out a random check or some kind of inspection so that sanctions or corrective measures are taken directly to the company owners to be orderly. There should be no discrimination, one is orderly but many other offices do not comply," Bhima told reporters, Tuesday, May 25.

He also said it was possible that some workplaces were unable to provide adequate health protocols. For example, providing hand sanitizers and masks. "For medium and large companies, there may not be a problem, but for MSMEs there will definitely be additional costs," said Bhima.

So, at times like this, the government should provide assistance to MSME entrepreneurs to ensure the availability of masks. In addition, the government must also carry out the socialization of safe health protocols from now on.

The reasons for the economic recovery are considered inaccurate

However, Bhima is skeptical about this protocol. Because in addition to assessing that the Ministry of Health is not quite ready for the new normal protocol that they have just issued, he also considers the reasons for economic recovery in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"(The reason for the economic recovery) is not yet right, as long as the readiness of the health protocol is not 100 percent," he said.

Apart from Bhima, Epidemiology Expert from FKM UI, Pandu Riono also assessed that the issuance of a new normal protocol at work on the grounds that moving the economy back was not right because there were things that the government should pay attention to before implementing this protocol, namely reducing Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB).

"The reason is strange. The protocol can only be implemented if the PSBB reduction is enforced. The criteria for reducing this need to look at various health indicators," Pandu said when contacted by VOI on Monday, May 25.

The health indicators in question are in terms of epidemiology, public health, and health service readiness that need to be assessed. Pandu explained that the areas where the PSBB can be relaxed are areas that have entered the green zone. "If it's not green, yes, it still doesn't meet the requirements," he said.

It is considered as justification for people to return to filling public places

Deputy Chairman of the PAN Faction of the DPR RI, Saleh Partaonan Daulay, actually considered that the issuance of the new normal protocol in the workplace was considered inappropriate. According to him, this rule could be an opening for the community to avoid the PSBB rules because they can work as usual and no longer need to hold back at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As a consequence, the streets will be busy again. Markets, malls, industries, offices and other workplaces will certainly be crowded. I think this is still vulnerable. Moreover, the fact is, the chain of transmission of COVID-19 cannot be broken," he said in a written statement.

He also considered that there was nothing new in the protocol that was recently issued by the Minister of Health. Because, this protocol is the same as the health protocol that is often delivered by the government and has been implemented by the community.

This member of the DPR RI also criticized several matters contained in this protocol. The first is a matter of measuring the temperature before entering the workplace. He said, is there any guarantee when the temperature measurement is carried out it will be safe for employees considering that currently many people are infected but have no symptoms or what are commonly called people without symptoms (OTG).

"Second, companies do not apply overtime work. This rule is expected to reduce social distancing and physical distancing. But it must be realized that if all are allowed to work, social distancing and physical distancing are difficult to control," said Saleh.

He also added that the government also seemed to loosen up the regulation by saying that three shifts were allowed but had to be filled by those under 50 years of age.

He considered this odd, because based on the data from the Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19, people who were positive for COVID-19 were under the age of 50, the number was around 47 percent. "It means that the difference in age for overtime is very inappropriate," he said.

Saleh also commented on the use of masks as written in the Minister of Health's Decree. He said, this rule had actually been done a lot. However, it is considered that the use of these masks cannot be a guarantee that the spread of COVID-19 will stop. Likewise with the provision of vitamin C for company employees.

According to him, this could actually be done even though the company had to spend a procurement budget. However, Saleh assessed whether the gift was appropriate. Because, so far there has been no research that says that vitamin C is able to fight corona even though it is believed to be able to increase immunity.

Thus, this council member appealed to the public to remain vigilant amid the spread of COVID-19. According to him, protecting yourself and your family from this disease is very necessary.

"Don't be too happy with this regulation from the Ministry of Health. Stay careful. The war against corona is not over. Not only in our country, in other countries it is the same," he concluded.