Companies Asked to Appoint Health, Safety Officers to Help Battle Covid-19

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesian Labor Minister Ida Fauziyah has called on companies to appoint health and safety [H&S] officers following the proliferation of Covid-19 clusters in offices throughout Indonesia during the transition large-scale social distancing phase.

“We urge the appointment of these officers to anticipate and prevent the spread of Covid-19 in workplaces,” Antara state news agency quoted Ida as saying on July 29.

Also read: Jakarta Offices with Covid-19 Positive Workers Told to Shut Down for Three Days

“We expect H&S officers can encourage companies and their employees to apply proper health protocols such as wearing masks and practicing social distancing, as we try to adapt to new habits to prevent Covid-19.”

Ida also encouraged business owners to carry out initiatives like the Healthy Employee Movement to orient employees in the new health protocols.

“We hope programs like the Healthy Employee Movement can ensure the employees’ safety, health and productivity.”

Covid-19 Task Force member Dewi Nur Aisyah agreed. “Offices should be equipped with facilities to prevent the spread of Covid-19 during work hours and help the employees apply health protocols.” 

Dok. BNPB Cover-19 Task Force member Dewi Nur Aisyah at a talkshow on 29 July 2020

“Health protocols are ineffective without the facilities to back them up. On the other hand, facilities are optimized if [H&S officers] are on hand to play a monitoring and regulatory role.”

But Dewi added that H&S officers are only a part of the mechanism to prevent Covid-19. “[Containing Covid-19] is a team effort. You cannot have [HS officers] practice health protocols while everyone else neglects to do so," she said.

Also read: Jakarta Authorities Warn of Potential Covid-19 Clusters in Workplaces