Holywings says it is committed to paying the salaries of its furloughed Jakarta employees for this month while considering options for wage payments beyond this period, after all 12 of its outlets in the capital were ordered to shut.
Yuli Setiawan, a projects general manager at Holywings Indonesia, met with the Jakarta Regional Council (DPRD) yesterday afternoon to discuss the fates of the nightlife establishment chain’s employees.
She said all Holywings employees who were furloughed as a result of the chain’s citywide shutdown will receive their full salaries this month.
“Moving forward, we will formulate [solutions] in management, because this involves the livelihoods [of the employees],” Yuli said after the meeting with DPRD.
Under Governor Anies Baswedan’s orders, the Jakarta Provincial Government this week shuttered 12 Holywings bars and clubs in the capital after an audit uncovered various breaches of administrative requirements. The order came after Holywings caused a nationwide scandal over a free drinks promo that was perceived to be blasphemous.
One administrative violation was the serving of alcoholic beverages on-site, which goes against Holywings’ retail-only license for selling alcohol. Some outlets reportedly had no license to serve alcohol at all.
The shutdown in Jakarta may not be permanent, as the provincial government said that Holywings may reopen in the capital after they obtain the appropriate licenses.
Holywings has 36 bars and clubs throughout Indonesia listed on its official website, with a beach club in Bali under construction. All outlets have been ordered to shut. Nationwide, it claims to have some 3,000 employees, 2,850 of whom are Muslims.
Unlike in Jakarta, other regional governments made it clear that they closed Holywings in their respective jurisdictions specifically because of the blasphemy scandal.
On a promotional social media post last week, Holywings promised a bottle of gin for men named Muhammad and for women named Maria every Thursday. The post sparked intense religious outrage in the Muslim-majority nation as it used the holy prophet’s name to promote a product that is haram (forbidden for consumption by Muslims), prompting the arrest of six employees management said had acted independently and were thus solely responsible for creating and posting the promo.
More on the Holywings scandal
This free drinks for Muhammad promo didn’t go down well in Indonesia
Governor Anies Baswedan revokes permits for 12 Holywings outlets amid Muhammad controversy
Holywings may reopen after they sort out alcohol sales license: vice governor
Holy balls: Bakso restaurant offers free meals for customers named Muhammad and Maryam
