Almost 15,000 workers have been laid off because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tangerang, Banten, Tangerang Regent Ahmed Zaki Iskandar has stated.

Ahmed added that 9,386 workers had been furloughed as a result of the pandemic. The workers who have been laid off or furloughed were in 13 companies that declared bankruptcy.

“Not to mention a big company with 8,000 employees that will shut down this July,” Ahmed said in a statement on Tuesday

Ahmed said his administration would continue to keep track of employees who have been laid off during the pandemic. According to Ahmed, the total number of laid off workers will reach 23,000 as of July.

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Nationwide, the Manpower Ministry recorded that up until May 27, 1.79 million workers were laid off or furloughed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Tangerang Manpower Agency Head Jurnaji said the number of laid-off workers would keep increasing if the pandemic situation did not improve.

To prevent that from happening, Jurnaji said his agency had formed a monitoring team to assess the effect of COVID-19. This team will be tasked with facilitating counseling sessions with corporations, employees and unions.

Tangerang regency is still under large scale social restriction (PSBB) until July 12.