Indonesia Highlights: Kontras Blasts Govt’s Approach to Free Speech | No Change in Minimum Wage 2021 | ASEAN Talks Migrant Workers

KOMPAS.com – As droves of Indonesians prepare for the long holiday, the government finds itself battling a Covid-19 national tally inching closer to 400,000 cases.

To be exact, Covid-19 cases in Indonesia reached 396,454 people after 3,520 individuals were infected in the past 24 hours.

Amid the gray cloud surrounding Southeast Asia’s worst-hit country in the coronavirus battle, there is the hope that a Covid-19 vaccine will put an end to Indonesia’s long-lasting first wave of infections.

According to Indonesia’s Minister of Research and Technology Bambang Brodjonegoro, the government has forged a partnership with three private companies for the country’s domestic Covid-19 vaccine production.

Though no specific company names were mentioned by Bambang, his presentation during a virtual event on Tuesday suggests that it may be Bio Farma, Kalbe Farma, Sanbe Farma, Daewoon Infio, Biotis Prima Agrisindo, or Tempo Scan Pacific.

Bambang Brodjonegoro shared that the three companies will be able to produce 1 billion doses of Indonesia’s Covid-19 vaccine annually.

Below are news highlights from Indonesia on Tuesday:

KOMPAS.com/ BONFILIO MAHENDRA WAHANAPUTRA LADJAR Workers across the archipelago should not anticipate any changes to the minimum wage in Indonesia after the country?s Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah announced that salary rates will remain the same in 2021.

1. No Change in Minimum Wage Rate in Indonesia Next Year

Workers across the archipelago should not anticipate any changes to the minimum wage in Indonesia after the country’s Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah announced that salary rates will remain the same in 2021.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani clarified that the decision to maintain the existing rate for minimum wage in Indonesia next year is to prevent further layoffs by companies operating in Indonesia.