The world today is being affected by global Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) that is assessed and characterized as a pandemic. Amid this outbreak, tourism is one of the sectors severely affected.
The Chairman of The Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO), Hariyadi B. Sukamdani mentioned that tourism sector suffered approximately $1.5 billion losses amid the COVID-19 outbreak hit and at risk for tens thousands pax annulled visits while trips and flight cancellations from and to other countries.
Amid this outbreak, as the membership-based organization, APINDO encourages its members to:
· Strengthen good hygiene practices as well as take related safety precautions by providing hand sanitizer at the office, postponed or cancelled any unnecessary business trips
· Conduct teleconference meeting instead of holding any events with huge members of people
· Working From Home (WFH) or working remotely is prioritized for some sectors as the workers safety is ultimately considered.
· Keep the members updated by sharing updated laws and policies, particularly during the emergency period through email, monthly report, and other media tools.
· Reschedule regular benefits for the members (for instance: members gathering and government relations gathering) by planning to have online gathering.
To alleviate the impact, APINDO is taking responses together with the Government and any stakeholders for these issues as follows:
· APINDO policies refers to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) which declared particular state of disaster emergency status due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
· Technical policies in provincial level in order to anticipate and response COVID-19 outbreak, APINDO Provincial Board refers to the regulation of local government, particularly on occupational safety and health (OSH) implementation
· Collaborated with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia) to contribute fundraising for The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI)
· Mapping plan to Manpower’s policy socialization in terms of workers and labour protection and business continuity in order to anticipate and response to COVID-19