Proposa on bus fare hike opposed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An official of the Jakarta office of the
\ntransportation ministry and a member of the City Council have
\nreacted strongly against a proposal from the Organization of
\nLand Transportation Businessmen that city bus fares be raised.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Jakarta office of the transportation ministry A.
\nKarim TJ. told reporters yesterday that the fare raise would only
\nfurther burden poor people.<\/p>\n
"I don't think it is proper to increase the fares because a raise
\nwould cause many people to suffer," Karim said.<\/p>\n
Head of the Jakarta Chapter of the All Indonesian Workers Union,
\nSalam Sumangat, likewise objected to the proposal. Salam is also a
\nmember of the City Council.<\/p>\n
"I don't think it is appropriate to increase the fare because it
\nwill only disadvantage public transportation users. Therefore I
\ncall on the governor not to approve the proposal," Salam said.<\/p>\n
He said workers would be the ones to suffer under the proposal
\nand efforts to improve their social welfare by raising the minimum
\nwage would be rendered ineffective.<\/p>\n
Salam explained that the government was raising the minimum wage
\nto meet the minimum physical requirements of workers. If the
\ngovernor approved an increase in bus fares the goal would not be
\nachieved.<\/p>\n
"The increase in minimum wages would not change anything if fares
\nwere raised because most workers are using public transportation to
\ngo to work," he added.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the transportation businessmen's organization,
\nAip Sjaifuddin, told reporters on Wednesday that his group would
\npropose that bus fares be raised to Governor Surjadi Soedirdja.<\/p>\n
He said the fare on regular buses should be increased from Rp 250
\n(11 U.S. cents) to Rp 500, Patas buses (quick, limited service)
\nfrom Rp 550 to Rp 900 and air conditioned buses from Rp 1,300 to Rp
\n1,750.<\/p>\n
Aip said transportation companies need the raise because the
\ncurrent fare does not cover their operating costs.<\/p>\n
"The price of spare parts and gas have increased, so the current
\nfare is out of date," Aip said.<\/p>\n
He stated that last year his organization proposed that the fare
\nbe raised, but the government rejected it. "This time I hope the
\ngovernment will approve the proposal," Aip added.<\/p>\n
Karim argued that the organization should look for other ways of
\ncovering its operating costs, such as asking the government for a
\nsubsidy.<\/p>\n
Citing an example, he said the organization could ask the
\ngovernment to reduce the tax rate or import duty on spare parts.<\/p>\n
Karim said the organization should have discussed its proposal of
\na fare increase with the transportation department of the workers
\nunion before putting it to the governor.(yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/proposa-on-bus-fare-hike-opposed-1447893297",
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