Jakarta Firms Told to Adjust Working Hours ahead of Indonesia's New Normal

The first option is to apply working hours that start between 7:00-7:30 am and end between 3:00-3:30 pm.

The second option is working hours that start from 10:00-10:30 am and ends between 5:00-5:30 pm. The new working hours in Jakarta apply for state-owned enterprises, private companies, and government ministries.

“These measures are meant to strike a balance between public transportation capacity and the number of passengers. In doing so, health protocols especially for physical distancing will be ensured,” said Yuri.

Yuri also explained that workers with a pre-existing condition or senior citizens should continue working from home despite the imposition of the new working hours in Jakarta.

A tough battle to beat

The coronavirus spread is proving to be difficult for Indonesia to contain as the country struggles between reopening the economy and ensuring public health and safety.

Since the early cases of Covid-19 were first announced in March, the Indonesian government has reported nearly 40,000 confirmed coronavirus cases as of June 15.

The number of new infections has steadily risen in the thousands since parts of the country eased lockdown measures.

Read also: COVID-19: Social Restrictions Extended, Violations Persist in Indonesian Cities

The government has attributed the higher figures of Covid-19 infections to aggressive testing and contact tracing.