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View all search resultsNightclubs torn between income, public health
Nightlife businesses are caught between a rock and a hard place. They are aware that reopening entertainment places during the ongoing epidemic increases the risk of new infections in the city, but many working in the industry are losing income.
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T
hree months ago, professional DJ Ganarjito Abirowo was still performing at multiple nightclubs in Jakarta. Under the stage name of Jidho, he used to perform five nights a week, making a name for himself as a sought-after DJ in the capital.
However, the coronavirus pandemic has turned his life upside down.
As nightclubs went into a temporary shutdown after Jakarta imposed the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in April, Jidho has not only been unable to channel his passion for music, but he also experienced a financial downturn.
His monthly revenue had plunged by roughly Rp 50 million (US$3,571) in the last two months, he said, without revealing his earnings now. The situation has forced him to start a culinary business offering home delivery to stay afloat.
But Jidho was well aware that putting nightclubs on a temporary hiatus was important to help reduce the COVID-19 spread in the capital.
The nightlife industry is caught between a rock and a hard place. They are aware that reopening entertainment places during the ongoing epidemic would increase the risk of new infections in the city, the epicenter of the outbreak in Indonesia, but many working in the industry are losing income.
They now urged the Jakarta administration to provide certainty on whether they can resume business to offset their losses after around two months of PSBB, especially since the city has decided to ease restrictions starting on June 5.
