We hope President Jokowi will save the garment industry in West Java whose minimum wage for district/city (UMK) has been set so high.
The Association of Producers of West Java’s Textile Products (PPPTJB) has urged Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to save the province’s garment industry by helping resolve the crucial issue of minimum wage.
“We hope President Jokowi will save the garment industry in West Java whose minimum wage for district/city (UMK) has been set so high,” PPPTJB chairperson Yan Mei said in a statement released on Saturday.
The garment industry, which has already been in a critical condition due to the minimum wage policy under the regional autonomy in the past, will die quickly owing to the global economic recession that has continued to affect demand in the garment market, she added.
She further concurred with the President’s warning of a global recession in 2023 owing to the economy, food, and energy crises triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
The President recently called upon Indonesians to stay cautious in view of predictions of a global recession, which he heard in his talks with several important figures such as the UN Secretary General, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and G7 leaders.
According to Yan Mei, orders at West Java’s garment factories in the post-COVID-19 era and in the midst of the Russia-Ukraine war have declined 40–70 percent on average.
Source: ANTARA News