A cross-sectoral policy package would reassure the public, particularly the business world and workers. A work-from-home policy could be implemented to reduce uncertainty in wake of COVID-19.Jakarta (ANTARA) - A lawmaker has urged the Indonesian government to prepare a cross-sectoral policy to deal with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.
Several countries, including Singapore, New Zealand, and the United States, have formulated policies on COVID-19, said Martin Manurung of the National Democratic Party faction in the House of Representatives (DPR), in a written statement released on Wednesday.
Singapore has formulated a policy offering incentives to medical and basic service workers who need to continue working, suspending taxes on tourism operators, and providing cash assistance to low-income families with children aged less than 21 years, he said.
"A cross-sectoral policy package would reassure the public, particularly the business world and workers. A work-from-home policy could be implemented to reduce uncertainty in wake of COVID-19," he said.
Each ministry has so far issued a policy which is limited to its sector and does not offer any explanations amidst the uncertainty about COVID-19, he said.
"The administrative reform minister and the manpower minister have issued a circular promulgating policies related to their respective fields. The manpower minister's policy (number M/3/HK.04/III/2020 dated March 17, 2020) only covers manpower issues, without any incentive for businesses to encourage them to implement a work-from-home arrangement," he said.
He said the incentive scheme is under the authority of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. "Therefore, the finance minister should work closely with the manpower minister to make the policy package," he said. (INA)
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Translator: Syaiful Hakim/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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