We are praying for their well-being and wishing them a speedy recovery
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati revealed that 2,474 employees from the Tax Directorate General (DJP) Kemenkeu had currently been infected with COVID-19 and were hospitalized or self-isolating at home.

"We are praying for their well-being and wishing them a speedy recovery," the minister stated during a Tax Day memorial ceremony in Jakarta, today.

Indrawati also noted that 7,652 other employees of DJP had recovered, while 51 had succumbed to the disease.

"We are saddened and praying for our 51 friends, who passed away and left us," she remarked.

Mulyani reminded all DJP employees to maintain personal safety by always implementing health protocols while working as tax revenue collectors.

DJP employees have a major task to fulfill during this pandemic since they had to collect revenues in order to maintain stability of the state budget (APBN), Mulyani expounded.

The APBN plays a crucial role in helping Indonesia’s businesses and people to withstand the impact of COVID-19.

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Moreover, tax revenues in 2020 declined by 12 percent, and for this year, Mulyani has projected tax revenue realization at 95.7 percent of the targeted Rp1.200 trillion, or a growth of 9.7 percent (yoy).

On the other hand, tax revenue for the first semester in 2021 was recorded at Rp557 trillion, or a 4.9-percent (yoy), thereby necessitating further efforts from the government to achieve the remaining target.

The minister noted that in order to overcome this pandemic, collaboration was deemed necessary in handling the country’s health problems and simultaneously ushering in economic recovery. Tax revenue is one of the vital keys to aiding economic recovery. If stakeholders, as taxpayers, are obedient in paying taxes, then the government is able to achieve the tax revenue target and distribute it to those impacted by this pandemic.

"It is a form of mutual assistance (gotong-royong) for each other," she affirmed.

Mulyani ordered all DJP employees to continue to strive with an optimistic spirit to achieve the remaining tax revenue target, albeit staying vigilant in caring for themselves during this pandemic.

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Translator: Astrid FH, Resinta Sulistiyand
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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