Indonesia: Potential Impact of Health Regulations on Small Traders

According to a report by medcom.id on January 29, the Indonesian government is facing strong warnings from small vendors and street vendors as it considers the current health regulations (RPP). They argue that if there are provisions in the bill that could negatively impact them, it should be cautiously approved. They are concerned that the new regulations could destroy their livelihoods.

Ali Mahsum Atmo, Chairman of the Indonesian Small Traders Association (APKL) and the Indonesian People's Economic Committee (KERIS), expressed concern over the potential provisions in the health regulation draft that continue to ban the sale of cigarettes and the display of tobacco products.

During an interview on January 29, 2024, he stated, "We hope that the government can understand that if the health regulations include provisions that prohibit the sale of tobacco products and the display of tobacco products, they should be carefully reviewed. We need to protect small vendors, as this could have a negative impact on the national economy." He further expressed that the ban on tobacco products is not only about livelihoods but could also lead to the bankruptcy of hundreds of thousands of small vendors and smokers, which affects people's means of making a living.

Alibaba elaborated that there are approximately 50,000 small retailers engaged in the cigarette retail business, while there are 4.1 million small shops focused on tobacco.

Rahmad Handoyo, a member of the Ninth Committee in the Indonesian Parliament, has reminded that health regulations should not overlook economic considerations, especially when it comes to the tobacco industry, which provides livelihoods for millions of people from the production to the sales. "While prioritizing health, we cannot allow the economy to collapse or significantly decline. We must protect this industry because millions of people depend on it for their livelihoods.