Newspaper vendors feted<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
For Agus, 27, being able to take a day off to spend time with
\nhis eight-month old daughter, Syaula, even during an official
\nholiday such as Friday's, is a luxury.<\/p>\n
\"I work seven days a week, usually 12 hours a day,\" said Agus,
\nwho earns Rp 1.2 million a month selling newspapers and magazines
\nat a stall in Cilincing, North Jakarta. \"If not, I wouldn't be
\nable to afford Syaula's formula.\"<\/p>\n
Agus, who worked for only half a day on Friday, was one of the
\nestimated 8,000 people, comprising mainly print media vendors and
\ncarriers, who packed the Istora Arena in Senayan, Central
\nJakarta, for Friday's \"International Loper's Day\" -- which
\norganizers say is the first of its kind, dedicated for print
\nmedia vendors the world over.<\/p>\n
Loper is the Indonesian term for people who distribute print
\nmedia, such as newspapers and magazines, to readers' hands,
\ncovering vendors who sell at traffic lights to carriers who
\ndeliver door-to-door during the mornings.<\/p>\n
Organizers called the event as a \"love-fest\" to honor and
\nappreciate the vendors, which account for around 50,000 people
\nworking in the Greater Jakarta area.<\/p>\n
\"This day is dedicated to you, our beloved vendors,\" said
\norganizer Laris Naibaho, the organizer of the event. \"We
\nappreciate what you do, not just today, but on every single day.\"<\/p>\n
During the three-hour event, which was free of charge, the
\nvendors were showered with food, a hymn and a poem created in
\ntheir honor, musical performances, door prizes, with the grand
\nprize being a Haj pilgrimage for two, and even an allowance of Rp
\n20,000, just for being there.<\/p>\n
\"We are often marginalized, so an appreciation like this feels
\nmarvelous,\" said Agus, who has been selling newspapers since he
\nwas laid off from his job at a ceramics factory in 1998, because
\nof the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
During the event, Naibaho, who also owns a large newspaper
\nagency in South Jakarta, declared the formation of a national
\nfoundation for the vendors, aimed at improving their welfare.<\/p>\n
\"We will protect your rights and livelihoods,\" Laris told the
\ncrowd, who gave him a thunderous applause.<\/p>\n
About 7,000 of the crowd were vendors and their families and
\nthe remaining 1,000 were representatives from newspaper
\ndistribution agencies, publishers and the city administration.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, who couldn't be present because he
\nwas attending the Lake Toba Summit in North Sumatra, sent an
\naddress that was read by the Mayor of Central Jakarta, Muhayat.<\/p>\n
In the address, Sutiyoso acknowledged that the vendors were a
\nvital part of the city's economy, helping reduce unemployment and
\nhaving a pivotal role in the supply chain.<\/p>\n
However, the governor gave a subtle warning, which was
\nimplicitly understood by most of the vendors, saying \"My beloved
\nvendors, don't forget to keep Jakarta beautiful and don't work in
\ndangerous spots.\"<\/p>\n
Daryatin, who earns around Rp 30,000 daily selling newspapers
\non the street, said that from Sutiyoso's words it was clear that
\nthe city would continue to be vigilant trying to keep vendors off
\nthe streets.<\/p>\n
\"The (police) come by at least twice a day. It makes my life
\nhard,\" said Daryatin, who had spent a week in jail for peddling
\nnewspapers at traffic lights. \"All I want to do is earn an honest
\nincome.\" (002)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/newspaper-vendors-feted-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}