1.523 workers are laid off in Banjarmasin

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Mayor of Banjarmasin H Ibnu Sina revealed more than one thousand of private workers in the city were laid off due to the highly outbreak of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Based on the data from the Banjarmasin Cooperative, MSE, and Manpower Agency, he said, currently 1.523 employees were laid off.

"In fact 121 employees were terminated because of this COVID-19 outbreak," he remarked at the press statement of the city Task Force for Handling Acceleration of COVID-19 at the City Hall, Tuesday (April7, 2020).

The bigger impact hit hotel business, he said, where more than 1,080 of employees had to be laid off, because many hotel operation were stopped.

"While in trading companies there were around 210 employees and139 employees in industry sector laid off," he said.

Likewise in the service business sector, including private hospitals, with a total of 94 workers laid off.

He claimed to disclose the information openly, because necessary precautions are needed so the wave of employee layoff can be stopped. Companies mapping will be conducted.

Meanwhile, to demulcent the burden off laid off or terminated workers, his government is trying to include them in social assistance.

"We are working on whether they can be helped in the Social Office program, such as by helping them with staple food or others," Ibnu Sina said.

He assured the city government will pay special attention to employees affected by COVID-19, both those were laid off or terminated.

"We work on a solution for them," he said.

As stated by the COVID-19 Task Force, Banjarmasin is in the red zone. There are 11 of its resident were tested positive for COVID-19.
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