The furlough reflected that the company was facing financial problems. We urged them to not lay off workers.
Bandung (ANTARA) - Some 5,047 workers in West Java were laid off, April 5, after companies in the region were acutely hit by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the province's Office of Manpower and Transmigration.

As of April 5, a total of 1,476 companies or industries were impacted by COVID-19. The pandemic has impacted 53,465 workers, and some 5,047 of them were laid off," M. Ade Afriandi, head of the manpower and transmigration office, stated here on Wednesday.

Afriandi confirmed that his office had submitted a report to the secretary general of the Manpower Ministry on verified data of companies and workers in West Java affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report stipulated that some 34,365 workers had to stay at home, and 14,053 others were furloughed.

"The furlough reflected that the company was facing financial problems. We urged them to not lay off workers. Being furloughed means that the respective company still has the obligation to pay wages, although the amount will depend on the negotiation between the management and labor union," he explained.

During the period from March 17 to 27, the office had monitored companies that might be affected by the pandemic.

"The impact on productivity is due to the lack of imported raw material. Some 88.6 percent of the total 502 companies under surveillance on March 17-27 have nearly collapsed," he stated.

The provincial government has prepared disbursement of Rp500 thousand per month under the social security program as a precautionary measure against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on labor.

"The central government will provide the Pre-Employee Card. We took the measures based on the governor’s instruction," he noted.

West Java, the second most affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the country after Jakarta, has recorded 343 infections, with 29 fatalities as of Tuesday, while its neighboring province and capital Jakarta registered 1,369 cases and 106 deaths.
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Translator: Ajat Sudrajat, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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