In order to ensure the sustainability of factory operation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indonesian government has issued guidelines for manufacturers that are allowed to continue operating.
One of President Joko Widodo鈥檚 main goal for his term is to expand Indonesia鈥檚 manufacturing capabilities. To that effect, he has pushed for investments in the manufacturing sector, promoted Industry 4.0, relaxed Indonesia鈥檚 negative investment list, implemented tax holidays and introduced an omnibus bill as an effort to reform the labor law.
Therefore, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to reveal its impact on Indonesia鈥檚 economic growth, the government has made the sustainability of the manufacturing sector a priority. Under President Widodo鈥檚 Large-Scale Social Restriction (Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar or PSBB) decree, some factories would be allowed to continue operations under certain conditions.
Factory Operational Requirements during the COVID-19 Pandemic
In this regard, the Minister of Industry issued Circular of the Minister of Industry No. 4 of 2020 on the Implementation of Factory Operations during the Period of Public Health Emergency of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (鈥淐ircular 4/2020鈥�). Issued on April 7, 2020, the circular is intended as a guideline for Industry Associations, Industrial Companies and Industrial-Areas Companies in carrying out their activities during the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia.
Under Circular 4/2020, Industrial Companies and Industrial-Areas Companies may be granted industrial activity permits to continue carrying out their business activities under the condition that they fulfill the following requirements:
- Implement early screenings to all workers by measuring their body temperature and conduct detections of employees with respiratory symptoms, including coughs/flu/shortness of breath, when entering factory areas and during shift changes;
- Prohibit sick workers from participating in any company activity and recommend them to immediately check with their company鈥檚 or government health facilities;
- Ensure sick workers and workers with travel history from any country or zone/city with known COVID-19 local transmission during the last 14 days are prohibited from entering factory areas. This is to be informed about through a notification in the entrance area. Information on the list of countries with local transmissions of COVID-19 can be accessed at www.covid19.kemkes.go.id;
- Ensure that working areas have proper air circulation and have adequate hand-washing facilities;
- Ensure the availability of soap and running water or alcohol-based sanitizers for hand-washing, as well as masks, gloves and clothing that ensure the safety of workers and company products;
- Increase routine cleaning frequency with disinfectant fluids within commonly used areas such as bathrooms, registration and payment counters, dining areas;
- Limit the number of workers allowed in public facilities such as mosques, canteens, and toilets;
- Provide multivitamins and nutritional foods for all workers;
- Prepare guidelines for workers from arrival at factories until they return to their residences; and
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Participate in and promulgate a clean and healthy lifestyle, as well as inform about COVID-19, through the installation of banners/ infographics at strategic locations throughout factory areas.
Further, workers of Industrial Companies and Industrial-Areas Companies are required to comply with the following provisions:
- If there are any sick workers in factory areas, stop any activity in the factory and immediately go to the company or government health facilities;
- Workers returning from any country or zone/city with known COVID-19 local transmissions during the last 14 (fourteen) days must inform the company.
- Wearing masks since leaving home and also gloves once arrived in factory areas;
- Maintain a minimum distance of 1 (one) meter (physical distancing) and avoid crowds during break time;
- All workers must implement a clean and healthy lifestyle such as washing hands regularly using water and soap or alcohol-based sanitizers for hand-washing and avoid touching unnecessary areas of the face; and
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Ban any handshake with fellow workers or individuals and consider adopting alternative forms of greeting.
Industrial Activity Permits during the COVID-19 Pandemic
In regards to industrial activity permits as referred to in Circular 4/2020, the Minister of Industry has issued Circular No. 7 of 2020 on Guidelines for the Submission of Applications for Industrial Activity Implementation Permits during the Period of Public Health Emergency of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (鈥淐ircular 7/2020鈥�), which came into force on April 9, 2020.
Circular 7/2020 stipulates that Industrial Companies and/or Industrial-Areas Companies may continue their business activities by obtaining operational and mobility permits in the form of certificate for industrial activities, either for factory operational activities, office administration, or industrial activities mobility related to raw materials, auxiliary materials, finished goods, and/or workers.
In order to obtain said certificate, Industrial Companies and/or Industrial-Areas Companies shall submit an application electronically through SIINas portal (siinas.kemenperin.go.id) by complying to the following procedure:
- log in to the SIINas (siinas.kemenperin.go.id) account;
- select the 鈥渆-services鈥� option;
- select 鈥淚zin Operasional dan Mobilitas鈥�;
- fill in the form, continue with selecting 鈥淪impan鈥�; and
- after an application has been validated via the system, the relevant business may print out the certificate by selecting the 鈥淐etak鈥� option.
The certificate shall be valid during the public health emergency of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) period and it features a QR Code which can be scanned to prove the validity.
Industrial Companies and/or Industrial-Areas Companies encountering technical difficulties during the submission of an application can complain to SIINas Helpdesk.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Industry may revoke the issued certificate, if any discrepancy between the data submitted and the actual conditions is found.