BPOM recall leaves thousands of herbal medicine workers idle
BPOM recall leaves thousands of herbal medicine workers idle
Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Cilacap
Acting on orders from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency
(BPOM) saying their product is dangerous, hundreds of producers
of the herbal medicine jamu in the Cilacap and Banyumas regencies
have shuttered their operations, leaving thousands unemployed.
Jasman, a jamu producer in Cilacap, told The Jakarta Post on
Wednesday that he would cease his factory's operations pending
further instructions from the authorities.
"If we are allowed to operate again we will do it," he said.
"But for the time being, we have to stop."
BPOM issued recall orders for hundreds of the herbal products
after they were found to contain chemicals that could trigger
obesity-related diseases when ingested.
"At present, we have to lay off our workers and withdraw all
our products from the market," said Jasman, adding that his
losses would be in the billions.
Eight hundred factories produce traditional herbal medicines
in the two regencies; most of these have ceased operation.
Presently, local authorities are continuing an investigation
of several jamu businessmen and pharmacists in the two regencies
to determine if there was any wrongdoing.
They have, in addition, destroyed millions of packs of herbal
medicines after they were removed from the market.
Sumadihardjo, another jamu producer in Gentasari, Kroya
subdistrict, criticized authorities for not coordinating with
local jamu producers in the regencies in their activities.
"The production of herbal medicines have gone on for decades
in the regencies, but so far the government has yet to issue
necessary regulations on jamu production," he said. "Besides, we
have never received complaints from consumers."
In a related development, thousands of laid off jamu factory
workers have called on their employers for their annual bonus to
celebrate the coming Idul Fitri holiday.
Sumirah, a 42-year-old jamu factory worker in Kroya, said 500
redundant employees at her company were asking for their bonuses,
as they had begun work last January.
"We will press our boss to pay the annual bonus a week ahead
of Idul Fitri," she said, pointing to Indonesian labor laws.
Cilacap Regent Herry Tabri regretted BPOM's abrupt
announcement, saying it should have been coordinated with local
administration officials to avoid protests among jamu
businesspeople and those on their payrolls.
"The fact is that BPOM's announcement has raised unrest among
local businesspeople and thousands of workers," he said.