The Indonesian Textile Association (API) also highlighted the discovery of Covid-19 cases from the first omicron variant in Indonesia. Deputy Chairperson of API Ian Syarif said the textile and textile product (TPT) industry was ready to ward off the dangers of spreading omicron variants in the factory environment. So far, the textile industry has continued to implement strict health protocols in every business activity. The implementation of health protocols in the textile industry is considered not difficult considering that the distance between workers is claimed to be well maintained. “For example, a 5 ha factory only has 800 employees divided into 3 work shifts.
It means that one person has a wide enough space to move and is quite distant," he said, Thursday (16/12).
In addition, all employees in the textile industry have been vaccinated in two doses. From June to August, API intensively held a free vaccination program in collaboration with various institutions, such as the Indonesian Shopping Center Tenants Association (Hippindo) and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs.
Companies that are members of the API also enforce strict rules, where vaccination is one of the conditions for the renewal of workers' contracts. All TPT factories have also installed a barcode scan of the PeduliLindung application as a condition for entering the area.
TPT industry players are also required to have a quarantine room in each location with complete medicines. API also has a special reserve fund to assist in handling the Covid-19 emergency in the form of oxygen concentrators and liquid oxygen donated to the closest hospital to the TPT factory location.
On the other hand, Ian is worried that the omicron variant will force the government to increase the PPKM level and limit the operation of markets where entrepreneurs sell textile products.
"We also don't stop urging members to maintain good health procedures, including helping family members of factory employees to be facilitated to get vaccines," concluded Ian.
Previously, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin announced today one positive case of Covid-19 due to transmission of the Omicron variant detected in Indonesia. This case was detected in a janitor on duty at the Wisma Atlet Hospital, Jakarta.
