Indonesia Highlights: US Extends Indonesia’s GSP Status | 2 Regions to Increase Minimum Wage in 2021 | The Return of Herbal Drinks

The regional governments of Central and Java and Special Yogyakarta Area will increase their respective minimum wage rates in 2021.

Indonesian Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah announced on Oct. 26 that there will be no changes to minimum wage rates next year, however, several regional governments have gone ahead and imposed increases for 2021.

Ida explained that the final decision on minimum wage rates falls on the governors of each region and that the ministry’s decree only served as a reference.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo stated that his region’s minimum wage rate for 2021 has been set to Rp 1,798,979, an increase of 3.27 percent than this year.

Governor of the Special Yogyakarta Region Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X will increase the minimum wage to Rp 1,765,000 in 2021, an increase of 3.54 percent than this year.

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2020/11/01/071631426/tak-ikut-perintah-menaker-ganjar-dan-sultan-kompak-naikkan-ump-2021?page=all#page2 

https://money.kompas.com/read/2020/11/01/160000526/jawa-tengah-dan-diy-naikkan-ump-2021-ini-kata-menaker 

3. The Return of Indonesia’s Herbal Drinks

Indonesia’s herbal drinks had been fading away in popularity in conjunction with modernization, however, the coronavirus pandemic has restored the public's appreciation of these beverages.

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said that for centuries, Indonesians have struck a balance in maintaining a sense of harmony between nature and cultural principles.

The coronavirus pandemic in particular is believed to bring back traditional customs onto modern Indonesian society.

Jokowi highlighted that Indonesians have turned to local customs such as regularly consuming herbal drinks to boost immunity during the pandemic.

President Joko Widodo explained that the return of Indonesia’s herbal drinks in the domestic market should encourage local artists and cultural practitioners to continue their craft in these hard times.

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/11/01/09031341/dampak-pandemi-covid-19-masyarakat-kembali-hidupkan-jamu-tradisional