Senen traders protest market management<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Some 100 traders from the Senen market in Central Jakarta
\nprotested on Monday against PT Pembangunan Jaya, the market
\noperator, which unilaterally revised the contract terms which
\nthey reached with the previous management of the market in 1966.<\/p>\n
The traders' representatives met several members of the city
\ncouncil on Monday and expressed their opposition to the revision
\non grounds that the new terms were unfavorable and that they had
\nno say in the revision.<\/p>\n
Jaelani, a senior adviser of the Association of the Senen
\nMarket Businessmen (P3S), said that the traders -- many of whom
\nhad established their shops there before 1966 -- disapproved of
\nthe revision calling it \"unfair\".<\/p>\n
\"We reject the revision of the agreement we made in 1966. We
\nshould unite so that the market operator will not treat us
\nunfairly,\" Jaelani told the traders during the meeting with the
\ncouncillors.<\/p>\n
Amril, one of the shop owners, said that based on the
\nagreement made in 1966, the traders were allowed to rent the
\nmarket space for periods of 10 years and automatically extend the
\nterm thereafter if they agreed on any new rates.<\/p>\n
The agreement in 1966 was made between the traders and the
\ncity-owned PT Pembangunan Ibukota Jakarta Raya, which managed the
\nmarket.<\/p>\n
But, he said that the private company PT Pembangunan Jaya, who
\nlater took over the management of the market, revised the
\nagreement in 1999. The main point of contention included the
\nterms of rental for tenants from 10 years to only five years, and
\nthat the tenants now needed to negotiate and get approval from PT
\nPembangunan Jaya if they wanted to extend their rental period.<\/p>\n
Jaelani, 70, stressed that traders in Senen, particularly in
\nBlok I and II, were different from traders in new malls in the
\ncity as they had worked as traders there since the market was
\nstill a traditional one.<\/p>\n
The traders lodged their complaints after PT Pembangunan Jaya
\nbarred up one of the shops because the owner, Indra Darmawan,
\nrefused to sign the revised agreement. But later the city council
\nordered it to be reopened.<\/p>\n
Haim Mahaddin, a member of the City Council's Commission B for
\neconomic affairs, advised the traders to unite so that they could
\nfight for their interests.<\/p>\n
He said that the council ordered the private company to reopen
\nIndra's shop late last month as there was no strong reason from
\nthe management to close it, and the traders had not agreed with
\nthe revision of the accord.<\/p>\n
\"It is unfair as only one of the shops was barred up, while
\nthe others in the same situation had not been. Therefore, we
\norder the management to it to be reopened,\" Haim added.<\/p>\n
PT Pembangunan Jaya could not be reached for comment on
\nMonday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/senen-traders-protest-market-management-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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