The efficacy of law: Indonesian experience in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic

This article aims to clarify that there are several elements critical for ensuring the efficacy of law. The view of efficacy that emphasizes the objective and comply with the law is narrow and inadequate. New insights and understanding are required to strengthen the realization of the concept of the efficacy of law. The COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia forms a background to understand the efficacy of law. The study uses a socio-legal approach based on Indonesian experience in preventing the spread of COVID-19 through law reform. The government enacted at least 188 new regulations regarding the public health system, restrictions on activities in public spaces, and national economic recovery to manage the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first wave of the viral infection showed that the existing regulations failed to meet their objectives. The regulations that prohibited social activities led to economic disincentives within the society. In addition, these workers could not access the social security program. The regulations restricted their work activities and, in turn, affected their compliance with the law and its enforcement power. New ways are needed to solve problems that constitute unexpected impacts of the COVID-19 prevention regulations