Investments to Help Indonesia Avoid Mass Layoffs as Pandemic Drags On

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Minister of Industry is exploring options to prevent coronavirus pandemic-induced mass layoffs in Indonesia.

Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita and his team have offered one solution to the industrial sector: allow industries to operate throughout the pandemic by adhering to health protocols.

“We have to make sure that industries continue to operate. From the start, we have been spinning our brains trying to figure out a solution that will allow industries to operate amid this pandemic.”

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Agus said that allowing industries to operate as normal will reduce the likelihood of mass layoffs in Indonesia and the chance of enforcing work-from-home arrangements.

The Minister thus expects economic activities to resume, supporting national economic recovery efforts.

However, Agus has hope that investments will absorb the labor force and minimize the chances of mass layoffs in Indonesia.

“We are fully aware that allowing industries to operate will avoid mass layoffs in Indonesia. But there is a present surprise which is that investment flows will cushion the labor market.”

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Investment in the industrial sector increased by 37 percent year on year amounting to Rp 201.9 trillion during January-September 2020.