Traditional craftsmen who made brick building materials continued to survive amid the decline in brick prices.
The residents of Kambam village, Muara Batu sub-district, North Aceh district, who are mostly craftsmen producing bricks, complained that the selling price of bricks had decreased.
The decline in the price of the main building commodity is due to a lack of market demand. Previously, the price of bricks was around 300, or around 350 per brick, now it has decreased to 270 Rupiah per brick.
This price decline has been felt by residents since entering May 2020 yesterday. Most of the bricks produced by the residents of Gampoeng are marketed in the cities of Lhokseumawe, Pidie Jaya, Langsa, and several other cities around Aceh.
As for the brick production material itself is obtained separately. For land obtained from the interior of Paloh, while firewood, for fuel bricks is obtained in different areas.
Muhammad Yasir, one of the residents who produces bricks, explained that apart from the lack of consumer demand, the decline in brick prices was also influenced by the large number of residents who switched their income to producing bricks.
Apart from that, another obstacle that is felt is the difficulty of obtaining land with a suitable PH for brick making.
Meanwhile, the income from these bricks alone could reach 3 million Rupiah, depending on the amount of production and market demand.
And for brick workers at home the production is about 10 people. 4 in the brick formation section, and 6 of them in the firing section.
One traditional brick kitchen unit is capable of cooking one thousand, up to 60 thousand bricks ready for use.
It takes 3 days, 3 nights to cook quality bricks.
The quality of bricks is divided into several types. There are rice field stones, and ordinary bricks. However, the quality remains the same.
Meanwhile, the wages for self-employment are paid per day with a count of 50 Rupiah per share.
Usually, sales of bricks will increase towards the end of the year, or during the construction of government and private projects.
Thus, the latest information from Gampoeng Kambam, regarding the price of bricks.