New Idea to Boost Economy: Should Police Wear Batik? The Minister of Industry is sticking to his gu
The Minister of Industry is sticking to his guns about a government policy that requires civil servants to wear Indonesian- made clothing and footwear, despite criticism that the scheme is unfair and unworkable.
Fahmi Idris on Thursday revealed that another idea being considered was to require police and military officers to wear batik clothing two to three times a week.
“But I realize that not all of them could follow the campaign,” Fahmi said. “People will ignore police officers in the street if they are wearing batik, not uniforms.They will think that they’re going to a wedding or something,” he said with a smile.
The minister was speaking at a news conference after holding a meeting with top officials from several departments and ministries to discuss the possible details of the ‘Buy Indonesia’ program in Jakarta on Thursday.
‘People will think police
are going to a wedding’
Fahmi Idris,
industry minister
He said the idea for the latest decree had actually been laid out in earlier policies created in 2003 and 2006.
“[Such a regulation] was mentioned clearly in the 2003 presidential decree [known as Keppres] on industry and a 2006 Industry Ministry decree explaining how civil workers should be required to use local products and would be sanctioned if they did not obey the rules,” Fahmi told reporters.
Sanctions on employees who did not meet requirements would be “discussed later,” he said.
Fahmi declined to comment on earlier remarks by Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, who last week denied that the government was issuing a decree forcing civil servants to buy domestically made products.
Fahmi said the ‘Buy Indonesia’ program not only required civil servants to buy Indonesian-made work clothes and footwear but also sought to teach young children in schools about the importance of buying Indonesian products, he said.
To support the campaign, Fahmi said that he would propose that the Finance Ministry raise the uniform budgets for civil servants and provide them with clothing and footwear for free. He said he would need to discuss the figure with the agency.
When asked what would happen if a worker complained that their shoes or clothes did not fit, Fahmi said employees would not complain if they were provided with free uniforms.
Djoko Sarjono, the deputy of Indonesian Military and National Police, said 30 percent of the 400,000 officers and civil servants in those departments worked in desk jobs and could participate in the batik scheme.
Fahmi Idris on Thursday revealed that another idea being considered was to require police and military officers to wear batik clothing two to three times a week.
“But I realize that not all of them could follow the campaign,” Fahmi said. “People will ignore police officers in the street if they are wearing batik, not uniforms.They will think that they’re going to a wedding or something,” he said with a smile.
The minister was speaking at a news conference after holding a meeting with top officials from several departments and ministries to discuss the possible details of the ‘Buy Indonesia’ program in Jakarta on Thursday.
‘People will think police
are going to a wedding’
Fahmi Idris,
industry minister
He said the idea for the latest decree had actually been laid out in earlier policies created in 2003 and 2006.
“[Such a regulation] was mentioned clearly in the 2003 presidential decree [known as Keppres] on industry and a 2006 Industry Ministry decree explaining how civil workers should be required to use local products and would be sanctioned if they did not obey the rules,” Fahmi told reporters.
Sanctions on employees who did not meet requirements would be “discussed later,” he said.
Fahmi declined to comment on earlier remarks by Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, who last week denied that the government was issuing a decree forcing civil servants to buy domestically made products.
Fahmi said the ‘Buy Indonesia’ program not only required civil servants to buy Indonesian-made work clothes and footwear but also sought to teach young children in schools about the importance of buying Indonesian products, he said.
To support the campaign, Fahmi said that he would propose that the Finance Ministry raise the uniform budgets for civil servants and provide them with clothing and footwear for free. He said he would need to discuss the figure with the agency.
When asked what would happen if a worker complained that their shoes or clothes did not fit, Fahmi said employees would not complain if they were provided with free uniforms.
Djoko Sarjono, the deputy of Indonesian Military and National Police, said 30 percent of the 400,000 officers and civil servants in those departments worked in desk jobs and could participate in the batik scheme.