Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (ANTARA) - As many as 15 companies mostly engaged in the tourism sector in Bintan District, Riau Islands Province, have stopped operating due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, few tourists had visited Bintan, Chief of the Bintan Manpower Office Indra Hidayat said here on Sunday.
Singapore has been the biggest source of tourist arrivals in Bintan. However, it is now imposing restrictions on travelers coming into the city-state.
"As a result, hotels and restaurants in Bintan are nearly empty," he said.
The companies that stop operating include PT Bintan On Base Resort, Starjet Grup, PT Arty Bintan Hotel, PT Bintan SPA Villa, PT Bakri Karya Sarana, PT Bali Holiday, PT Pulau Cempedak, PT Pulau Nicoi, PT Bintan Pulau Indah, PT Bukit Bintan Raya, Tanah Merah Seafood Restoran, PT Bintan Alumni Indonesia, PT Serumpun Padi Mas, PT Langit Asta Perkasa CB, and PT Alam Indah Bintan.
He said PT Alam Indah Bintan, known as Nirwana Garden Lagoi has not reported its list of employees taking unpaid leave. The company plans to force 564 of its employees to take unpaid leave.
"In total, 635 employees will be laid off, and 1,361 others will take unpaid leave," he said.
The number of employees laid off and forced to take unpaid leave will potentially increase if the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be handled in one or two months, he said.
To alleviate the financial burden of low-income people, the Bintan administration will provide them with Rp300,000 in cash assistance each for four months.
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