Gunungkidul Regency Mandates Civil Servants to Shop at Traditional Markets

The Gunungkidul Regency Government, Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), has mandated Civil Servants (ASN) to shop at traditional markets to encourage economic growth for local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Speaking in Gunungkidul on Friday, the Regent of Gunungkidul, Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih, stated that the shopping time for civil servants is set for the first Friday of every month, considering that employees have recently received their salaries.

“Even without an order, at the beginning of the month, civil servants generally shop to meet household needs, so they are now directed to shop at the traditional markets nearest to their respective offices to help boost local traders’ sales,” she said.

According to her, the programme has been regulated under the Gunungkidlag Regent’s Instruction Number 7 of 2026, which was issued on Tuesday (29/9) and launched today at Arjosari Market, Wonosari District.

“We also instruct all civil servants to bring their own shopping bags from home to reduce the use of plastic waste,” she added.

Endah assessed that this policy was taken in view of the current situation and condition of traditional markets, which are lagging far behind modern markets, particularly due to the increasing trend of online sales.

“Collaboration between the Market Office and MSME actors in the market will continue to be maximised so that traders obtain market certainty, especially from the local government environment,” she said.

She requested relevant Regional Government Organisations (OPD) to formulate new strategies to expand the appeal of traditional markets and increase public visits, ensuring they can compete despite facing direct competition from modern markets and digital sales systems.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Gunungkidul Trade and Manpower Office, Kelik Yuniantoro, stated that the programme is conducted for 1.5 hours after civil servants participate in healthy activities at their respective offices.

“After exercising, they are encouraged to go shopping,” he said.

He requested every head of the OPD to mobilise their staff to participate in the shopping activity. “In this way, transactions are expected to spread to small traders and local business actors,” he added.