Helping Informal Workers in the Pandemic Period

Quarantine at the time of the pandemic always risks making the economy disrupted. For those who have a monthly income and have savings, life will take a short break. But for informal workers who depend their lives on daily income can be a very serious threat.

Actually there is no need to worry about lock down, the call to stay at home and also physical distancing plus the growing paranoia makes almost everyone afraid of physical contact with each other. This has affected workers in the informal sector.

To be honest, we also cannot be totally separated from informal workers. We still need to buy groceries, we still need to buy things at the store, friends who live in boarding houses still need to buy food at food stall, and so forth. So the demand does not disappear, it’s just that during this pandemic, security concerns regarding health issues must be put forward so that transactions based on mutual relations can continue.

So what should we do?

For your favorite seller (stalls, vegetable vendors, etc.):

Communicate what needs to be done to the seller relating to fostering a sense of security. For example, you would prefer to receive items purchased directly at home, you will feel safe if you receive goods purchased delivered by a delivery person who uses a mask.

Inform and teach your favorite seller to:

• Can start preparing their WA numbers so they can receive orders,
• Started to do preventive protocols for Covid-19, such as always using masks, spraying disinfectants on all their merchandise,
• Add delivery services,
• Show the attitude to every buyer that they are aware of the dangers of the Covid-19 outbreak.

For other informal workers

Other informal workers such as online-based motorbike riders, road sweepers, gardeners, and others also need to get the right information in interacting to carry out their work, bearing in mind that their work cannot be done from staying at home.

Give them the clear information about the importance of protecting themselves from the danger of being exposed to the unseen Covid-19. Remember if someone is exposed not necessarily noticeable symptoms. If the person’s immunity is good enough then the person will not get sick but only has the potential to become a “carrier” that endangers the people who interact with him. People who can be exposed because of this carrier could be colleagues, tenants, residents or even their beloved families. Once these people are exposed and lacking immunity they will get sick. We all don’t want this to happen right?

Where can we get information to educate others?

I usually refer to the official government website. And also the WHO website. From there I began to translate into languages that were easily understood by those I wanted to communicate.

At the moment I am volunteering to be an EduCOVID volunteer to be able to communicate all information about Covid-19 to the grassroots so that they can better understand all the correct information about Covid-19. I will update everything we are doing through my blog so that you can also help spread the knowledge about Covid-19 to the grassroots around you too.