Hidup Kretek! Ayo, Ada Petisi!
I know a significant proportion of my readers are in Indonesia, so I am offering this petition for their perusal.
It’s addressed to President Jokowi!
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Mr. Jokowi, please help so that workers in the labor-intensive sector can still work during the pandemic
Dear Mr. Jokowi,
We all realize that Indonesia has not been free from the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic. All industries are affected, including the Tobacco Products Industry (IHT). This situation worries us all.
In the midst of a difficult situation like this, we, the Federation of Tobacco Tobacco Workers Unions – All Indonesian Workers Union (FSP RTMM – SPSI) which is a federation of trade unions that are directly responsible for the fate of cigarette workers, always feel a recurring concern every time. years as a result of the Government’s policy of increasing the excise rate on tobacco products every year.
The total number of our members is more than 243 thousand. Of these, more than 153 thousand are workers in the cigarette industry.
The policy of increasing the excise tax rate on tobacco products has a very broad impact on those of us who depend on the tobacco sector for their livelihood.
We understand that the Government has given “breath” to the Hand-Rolled Cigarette (SKT) industry by not increasing excise rates and selling prices in 2021. This needs to be maintained.
Thus, workers in the hand-rolled kretek cigarette sector are saved and can continue to work. Do not let this sector decline again, as has happened in the last 10 years. SKT is a specialty of our country. SKT is also a labor-intensive industry that absorbs a large number of workers with limited education. More than 60 percent of our members work in the Hand Kretek Cigarette sector.
The increase in the average excise duty on machine cigarettes in 2021 is a very high increase, stifling the industry and workforce, especially in the midst of this difficult pandemic situation. This increase causes a decrease in production which is quite high in certain groups. As a result, workers are victims.
As workers in a national industry that is legal, independent, has also contributed significantly to the state’s income and has been a place for workers to depend on for decades, we want to be given the opportunity to survive and grow. Not the other way around by giving emphasis which ends up sacrificing the workers and tobacco and clove farmers
rossrightangle 
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