25 Ribu Warteg di Jakarta Tutup Akibat Terdampak Pandemi COVID-19 - SIS 26/10

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The claim that 25,000 wartegs (warung tegal, small-scale eateries) in Jakarta closed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be inaccurate based on available data. While the pandemic significantly affected wartegs in Jakarta and the surrounding Jabodetabek area (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi), the figure of 25,000 closures specifically in Jakarta is not consistently supported by reliable sources. Instead, this number is often cited in the context of the broader Jabodetabek region.

Key Findings:

Estimated Closures in Jabodetabek: Multiple sources, including reports from the Komunitas Warung Tegal Nusantara (Kowantara), indicate that approximately 25,000 wartegs in the Jabodetabek area were estimated to have closed or gone bankrupt during the pandemic. This figure represents about 50% of the estimated 50,000 wartegs in the region before the pandemic.

Jakarta-Specific Data: In Jakarta specifically, the number of closures was lower. For instance, one source from 2020 reported that around 10,000 wartegs (25% of the 40,000 in Jabodetabek) were seriously impacted, with many closing or relocating to cheaper areas like Bogor, Depok, or Bekasi due to high rental costs in Jakarta. Another report from 2024 noted that around 200 wartegs in East Jakarta alone went bankrupt, suggesting a smaller scale of closures within the city.

Reasons for Closures: The closures were driven by:
- Decline in Revenue: Warteg revenues dropped by up to 90% due to reduced customer traffic, particularly from office workers and laborers affected by layoffs and work-from-home policies.
- High Rental Costs: Many warteg owners could not afford to renew leases, especially in Jakarta, where rental prices are higher than in surrounding areas.
- Rising Commodity Prices: Increases in the cost of essential ingredients like cooking oil, chicken, and vegetables added financial strain.
- Social Restrictions: Policies like PPKM (Pemberlakuan Pembatasan Kegiatan Masyarakat) and PSBB (Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar) limited operating hours and customer capacity, further reducing income.

Skepticism About Data: Some stakeholders, including the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs and Wahyoo CEO Peter Shearer, questioned the accuracy of the 20,000–25,000 closure figures, suggesting they were estimates rather than verified data. They emphasized the need for precise data to target aid effectively.

Mitigation Efforts: Some wartegs adapted by offering online sales or participating in initiatives like free meal programs for workers affected by the pandemic, supported by organizations like Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT). Others relocated to areas with lower rents or returned to their hometowns.

Conclusion:

The figure of 25,000 warteg closures likely pertains to the Jabodetabek region as a whole, not Jakarta alone. While wartegs in Jakarta faced significant challenges due to the pandemic, including revenue drops, high rents, and supply cost increases, the number of closures in the city itself is likely lower than 25,000, with estimates suggesting around 10,000–20,000 closures across the broader region by mid-2021. More recent data (e.g., 200 closures in East Jakarta in 2024) indicates ongoing struggles but on a smaller scale. For precise numbers, further verification would be needed, as some sources question the accuracy of these estimates. Grok

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