Companies organize exodus for workers<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Poyo, 30, a stone mason, who works for a small developer in East
\nJakarta, is unhappy he cannot celebrate Idul Fitri in his
\nhometown in Purwodadi, Central Java, this year.<\/p>\n
\"I am broke. My boss has got only a few work orders during the
\npast two months, while my daily spending has gone up as the price
\nof basic commodities rises. I have no money to return home,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sadeli, a satay vendor in his 50s, says for him mudik, or the
\nannual exodus, is always a time of financial stress.<\/p>\n
\"Mudik simply means that I have to spend lots of money for bus
\ntickets, which hover at around Rp 44,000 now, not to mention
\ngifts for my family and relatives at home,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Low-paid workers have suffered the most from the Oct. 1 fuel
\nprice hikes, which were immediately followed by rising
\ntransportation, food and living costs. Many have decided not to
\njoin the more than 2.5 million Jakartans expected to leave town
\nover the holiday.<\/p>\n
\"Due to the fuel price increases, many construction workers
\ncannot afford to return home to enjoy Idul Fitri. For that
\nreason, our company has decided to organize the journey home for
\nthose workers this year,\" Monika Irayati, the corporate
\ncommunications manager of cement producer PT Semen Cibinong told
\nThe Jakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
The company would provide 54 buses to bring over 3,000
\nconstruction workers to their hometowns throughout Java. They are
\nset to leave today from the Bung Karno Stadium at 8:30 a.m.<\/p>\n
\"By organizing the journey, we also want to thank them for
\ntheir participation in the development projects we are doing,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Noodle producer Indofood Sukses Makmur also provides 147 buses
\nfor about 8,000 of its street vendors in Greater Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"This is the 12th year we have organized transport for mudik.
\nWe have continued this program since many vendors have said they
\nbenefit from it,\" deputy head of public relations Sri Bugo
\nSuratmo said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Irwan Hidayat, president director of herbal
\nmedicine company Sido Muncul said his company had for 16 years
\nsent more than 13,000 herbal medicine hawkers home in 220 buses.<\/p>\n
\"Initially, this was a kind of an incentive for our hawkers to
\nsell more of our products. But, later, we adopted this as part of
\nour corporate social responsibility program,\" Irwan said.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso welcomed the moves, saying they lessened the
\nburden on the city to provide public transportation for the low-
\npaid.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration has prepared 6,566 buses, 598
\nrailway carriages, 214 aircraft and four ferries to cater for the
\nincreased holiday transportation demand.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/companies-organize-exodus-for-workers-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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