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.