Textile and Small and Medium Industries (IKM) players in Majalaya, Bandung Regency screamed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chairman of the Bandung Regency Textile and owner of the sarong company CV Setia Tunggal Textile Aep Hendar said that his business had taken a hit since the COVID-19 outbreak.
"The emergence of COVID-19, now it is very devastating for us as Majalaya textile entrepreneurs. From the first COVID-19 to now it has been swaying, some have gone out of business, some have been divided for three days, ”said Aep.
In addition, the price of the raw material for yarn, according to Aep, is out of control. "Especially now, in January 2021 raw materials are not constrained by the increase of up to 30%," he said.
Aep said that the increase in raw material prices was not in line with the selling price in the market.
"For example, polyester from Rp. 21 thousand (kilograms) has now reached Rp. 29 thousand. If we produce to buy this product, which is our profit because the market buyer cannot absorb it under any pretext, if we produce it cannot stop," he said.
Aep questioned the presence of the government which does not pay attention to textile entrepreneurs, especially in Majalaya and generally in Bandung Regency. His party also questioned about assistance for IKM players.
According to him, there is a partnership initiated by the Ministry of Industry but, with the term KUR for a machine purchase loan, KUR still has to have a guarantee, we cannot guarantee it as the term machine to be purchased.
"If the government wants the government to have synergy between the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of BUMN, please help with the term, by rolling out KUR with guarantees for machines that we buy, right? We have collaborated with the Chairman of API where they made the foster father call us adopted children , there will produce fabrics that are prioritized or urgently needed by the community, because now the goods are imported, if we have a cooperation, KUR will be rolled out, for example one person Rp. 1 billion we can buy a machine that can produce 25 million meters per month, well there, imports will be hampered by that production and there will be competitive prices, our prices can be cheaper, "he explained.
Aep also complained that the gloves he produced were still piled up in the warehouse. Meanwhile, during the COVID-19 pandemic like now, it is not the sarong that is needed by the community.
"Maybe there are about 10 thousand scores, then some white cloth is not compatible in the market. If we raise it, it doesn't buy, if we save it we have costs, electricity, employees, banks, we are already bothered now," he said.
However, his factory cannot stop production because there are still many employees. Even though he only works three days a week, Aep still runs the business.
"For our employees, there are three days of work, the important thing is they can eat. We as entrepreneurs really care for them to fight for them so that when they work they can eat, "he said.
Behind that, he hopes, in particular, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to pay attention to IKM actors.
"What is needed, we are to the government to try to care for IKM entrepreneurs in Bandung Regency, especially in Majalaya, how is the solution for raw materials soaring 30%," he explained.
Aep also admitted to being jealous, where the textile business sector did not get subsidies during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to other business sectors.
“Maybe the housing industry or maybe the automotive industry has subsidies or what, if for textiles it doesn't exist until now. The term Pak President is rolling out the love of domestic products, if we can't be competitive with this 30% increase in raw material prices, "said Aep.
Meanwhile, the IKM Majalaya Partnership Project Officer, Dudi Gumilar, said that the textile in Majalaya was very worrying.
"In this case for Indonesia's textile problems, generally Majalaya looks very worrying, we from IKM, among others, are for increasing productivity, looking for cheap raw materials, but it is also a bit heavy," he said.