GENERAL NEWS AND HEADLINES

Jokowi to meet ASEAN leaders online
Kompas (https://tinyurl.com/w5x5kbl)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is set to attend the ASEAN Summit (KTT ASEAN), which is to be held virtually, on Tuesday. The summit is expected to be followed by an ASEAN Plus Three Summit, a forum with ASEAN’s main development partners namely China, Japan and South Korea.

Indonesia is one of the countries that took the initiative to hold the two summits.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi stated that one of the primary items on the agenda that would be discussed in both summits was the cooperation between member countries in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Jokowi asks for 10,000 citizens to be tested daily
CNN Indonesia (https://tinyurl.com/qvn9thn); TribunNews (https://tinyurl.com/s8yadfj)

Following reports on the improvements of the country’s laboratory capabilities, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has called on his aides, particularly the COVID-19 task force, to speed up and administer more polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

“I want at least 10,000 citizens to be tested [daily],” said the President earlier today.

Jokowi added that administering more PCR tests would also expand the government’s capability to detect the virus, as well as avoiding samples piling up, especially in areas most affected by the pandemic.

 

Medical workers request exemption from PSBB
Tempo (https://tinyurl.com/s6vjt58)

A number of medical worker organizations have requested a dispensation for all medical workers amid the currently imposed large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in their respective regions.

“We hope that all medical workers will be exempted from the policy and have their mobility eased to help in handling the COVID-19 outbreak,” the request stated.

The request was conveyed through a letter addressed to COVID-19 task force and National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) head Doni Monardo, Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis

The organizations that took part in submitting the request include the Indonesian Dentists Association (PDGI), the Indonesian National Nurses Association (PPNI), the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI) and the Indonesian Public Health Expert Association (IAKMI).

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS NEWS AND HEADLINES

Manufacturing sector experiences sharp contraction in first quarter
CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/rbxjteq), (https://tinyurl.com/ws5a3mq); Bisnis Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/ushhhwh); Kontan, (https://tinyurl.com/vl7xr62) 

Bank Indonesia (BI) reported a sharp contraction in manufacturing sector activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to BI’s survey, Indonesia’s Prompt Manufacturing Index (PMI) fell from 51.5 percent in the last quarter of 2019 to 45.64 percent in the first quarter of 2020. Compared with the same quarter last year, the contraction was even deeper, from 52.65 percent. The contraction occurred in all component indices, which include production volume, order volume, goods stock volume and manpower. “The contraction in all of the PMI-BI components was caused by slower demand and a disrupted supply chain as a result of COVID-19,” the central bank said in a statement.

 

1.5 million workers affected by COVID-19 pandemic: Minister
CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/sh5vegf); CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/taykvs7) 

According to the Manpower Ministry data, by Apr. 9 1.5 million workers in Indonesia were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 90 percent of these have been furloughed, and 10 percent have been laid-off. “I appreciate the business community’s decision to avoid laid-offs and taking the alternative option,” Manpower Minister Ida said. Out of the total 1.5 million affected workers, 265,881 are workers in the informal sector.

 

Energy Ministry predicts 5 percent fall in domestic coal consumption
The Jakarta Post, (https://tinyurl.com/uc5yfm9) 

The government expects domestic coal consumption to fall by as much as 5 percent this year due to lower coal-fired power plant activity in the virus-ridden economy. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said on Thursday that consumption was projected to reach around 147.25 million tons this year “if the COVID-19 pandemic continues,” down from an initial domestic market obligation (DMO) expectation of 155 million tons. Ministry spokesman Agung Pribadi said the DMO realization amounted to 31.54 million tons of coal in the first quarter, of which 18.8 percent was allocated for “non-electricity uses” and the remaining 81.2 percent for Indonesia’s top electricity company, state-owned PLN. “The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced coal demand from industry but the realization is enough to fulfill domestic needs,” he said.

 

OVO to disburse cash benefits for employment card recipients
Kontan, (https://tinyurl.com/t8pjx85); The Jakarta Post, (https://tinyurl.com/rk94juh) 

Digital payment service provider OVO has partnered with state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) to distribute cash benefits to recipients of the government’s pre-employment card program. Under the partnership, OVO will disburse Rp 600,000 (US$38.23) in monthly cash benefits for four months to the e-wallet accounts of program participants after they finish their training courses. Targeting 5.6 million beneficiaries across the country, each participant will get up to Rp 3.55 million in benefits that include the monthly incentive and a Rp 1 million discount for an online training program on the program’s partner education platform such as RuangGuru and Zenius

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