As covid-19 cases in Indonesia keeps surging at an alarming pace, the government finally issues order for all citizens to stay at home. Per March 26, the total number of infections nationwide has reached 893 people, with the current death toll at 78. “It is time for us to work from home, study from home, and worship from home,” urges President Joko Widodo during the press conference held at Bogor Palace on March 15. The current pandemic status of covid-19 makes the act of social (or physical) distancing all the more pressing since not only the flow of people helps in spreading the virus, but also the fact suggested by research that infection may not be followed by visible symptoms — people with strong immune system may become the carrier without showing symptoms, therefore if they neglect to stay at home, they may accelerate the spread of the disease.
And yet there are still many who proceed their activities as usual but mind you, this isn’t a simple matter of ignorance as suggested by the caption of the photo posted in Jakarta Globe. This problem of refusal to stay at home, for workers, runs deep within various factors: from the reluctance to implement lockdown policy to the lack of government incentive and economic assurance available for workers. In fact, Ministry of Manpower issues circular letter (Surat Edaran Menteri Ketenagakerjaan RI Nomor M/3HK.04/III/2020). This issuance of circular letter is problematic since it gives the incentive for employer to cut wages if they are affected by covid-19 (including if the workers are absent from work), which clearly violates the Law no 13 of 2003 on Manpower. Moreover, LBH Jakarta mention that this circular letter will have no influence: there is no real obligation for employers to abide, neglecting the fact that circular letter has no legal power within our constitution. It also fails in forcing employers to provide adequate medical facility in ensuring the safety of the workers; which already regulated, one of them being the Law no. 1 of 1970 on Occupational Safety. Lastly, insistence on nationwide lockdown being unnecessary may as well be regarded as official declaration which cements government’s reluctance in providing adequate protection on workers in this times of pandemic crisis. Article 55 in the Law no. 6 of 2018 on Health Quarantining states that during the period of lockdown basic needs are to be provided by the government; and therefore, with no such policy being imposed, government are free from such obligation.
Although they might still not be enough, fortunately there are many who are aware of this issue and decided to arrange voluntary acts in helping those affected by the outbreak of covid-19; including those medical workers in the front line. YLBHI also provide legal aid for workers. And this is the very least thing we could do: stay at home, and if you can, participate in every civil solidarity acts you know.
Writer is a student of English Letters Department at Universitas Ma Chung (https://machung.ac.id)
