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Retailers not overly concerned about latest microrestrictions
Retail industry representatives consider the latest micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM Mikro) light compared to last year’s tighter large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) that hammered commercial activity.
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (center) inspects a mall to ensure the enforcement of COVID-19 rules in Bekasi, West Java, on May 26, 2020. (Antara/ Fakhri Hermansyah)
I
ndonesian retailers expect to come out relatively unscathed from new movement restrictions announced by the government in response to mounting COVID-19 infections, partly because they believe people would still frequent malls.
Retail industry representatives consider the latest micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM Mikro) light compared to last year’s tighter large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) that hammered commercial activity.
“We studied how to adapt to last year’s [large-scale social restrictions]; the question is whether people will abide by health protocols,” Indonesia Retail and Tenant Association (Hippindo) head Budihardjo Iduansjah told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
The association supported efforts to clamp down on the virus surge, he said, adding that the government would ideally pinpoint the clusters causing case spikes. However, he feared people would still crowd malls in areas surrounding Jakarta, just like last year.
He urged the government to accelerate vaccination programs, adding that Hippindo was about to open more vaccination centers of its own in West Java and Central Java to add to its first center in Jakarta.
He said the government should continue its social aid programs to support consumer spending.
Read also: Fragile economic improvement must not be disrupted: Retail association
