Bylaw on 'becak' not to be reviewed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The City Council has decided not to review Bylaw
\nNo. 11\/1988 on public order which banned becak (three-wheeled
\npedicabs) from operating on the city's streets, saying that it
\nwould urge the administration to immediately provide them with
\nnew jobs.<\/p>\n
\"The door is already closed for becak to operate here in the
\ncity. The bylaw which banned the pedicabs is still valid,\"
\nCouncil Speaker Edy Waluyo told reporters after a meeting with
\nMinister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea at City
\nHall on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Edy said the council would further discuss how to provide the
\npedicab drivers with new jobs, to be arranged by the city
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the program to change the vocation of the
\npedicab drivers, Jacob said his ministry would help the city
\nadministration to find jobs for the drivers.<\/p>\n
\"If they want to join transmigration programs or work
\noverseas, we will do our best to help them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso said on Tuesday the new jobs would only be
\noffered to drivers who were Jakarta residents.<\/p>\n
\"For non-Jakarta residents, we will help them return to their
\nrespective hometowns,\" Sutiyoso said after receiving the
\nminister.<\/p>\n
According to City Hall spokesman Muhayat, only five percent of
\nabout 6,000 pedicab drivers operating in the city are Jakarta
\nresidents.<\/p>\n
\"They would most likely be given loans for working capital to
\nset up small stalls in traditional markets here,\" he said without
\nstating the amount of the loan.<\/p>\n
Edy further said the council also suggested that the
\nadministration conduct public order operations in a more humane
\nmanner against pedicab drivers.<\/p>\n
\"The authorities should avoid a violent approach or actions
\nthat could provoke the people targeted in the operation to
\nrespond violently,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Jacob agreed, saying that he also urged the administration to
\navoid violence during public order operations.<\/p>\n
\"They should avoid violence,\" Jacob told reporters.<\/p>\n
Jacob, who visited City Hall to get inputs on becak problems,
\nis scheduled to hold a meeting with the Urban Poor Consortium
\n(UPC) on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
UPC, a non-governmental organization that promotes the rights
\nof less fortunate citizens, is known for its role in coordinating
\nthousands of becak drivers here. It had demanded that the bylaw
\nbe revoked and the pedicabs be allowed to operate in certain
\nresidential areas here.<\/p>\n
The city administration has accused UPC of being behind the
\nclash between the city's public order officers and the pedicab
\ndrivers in Roxy, Central Jakarta, last month, which claimed one
\nofficer's life. UPC has denied the accusation.<\/p>\n
Jacob, who is also an executive of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan), urged the city administration
\nto increase the amount of compensation of Rp 250,000 (US$28) each
\nfor drivers who hand over their pedicabs to the authorities.<\/p>\n
\"The amount of compensation is too small,\" he said, without
\nmentioning what he considered to be an appropriate amount.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan's faction at the council suggested on Monday
\nthat the administration raise the amount of compensation to Rp
\n400,000 for each pedicab surrendered.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Mayor of Central Jakarta said on Tuesday that the
\ncentral Jakarta mayoralty offered 2,077 job vacancies for the
\npedicab drivers who are holding a Greater Jakarta identification
\ncard and wish to change profession.<\/p>\n
The variety of positions offered by the mayoralty includes
\nbajaj drivers and household helpers. As for those who are
\ninterested to begin entrepreneurship will be located at the Gardu
\nAsem traditional market in Kemayoran, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The number of vacancy will suffice as there is about 1,400
\npedicab drivers in Central Jakarta,\" according to the Mayor of
\ncentral Jakarta Hosea Petra Lumbun, as quoted by the
\nberitajakarta.com website.<\/p>\n
Pedicab drivers who are interested may apply directly to each
\ncity administration without a third party. (jun\/06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bylaw-on-becak-not-to-be-reviewed-1447893297",
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