Worried conductors protest over fare collection system<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A 15-person delegation, claiming to represent
\nover 1,000 conductors of the PPD city buses yesterday asked the
\nHouse of Representatives to drop the new, draconian policy of the
\nstate-owned company.<\/p>\n
As a result of the firm's new policy, the delegation said that
\nthey stand to lose jobs due to the direct payment system which no
\nlonger requires any crewpeople to collect fares from passengers.<\/p>\n
\"It seems to us that the company wants to 'kill' us by
\napplying this new system,\" Robin, a spokesman for the delegation,
\nsaid. \"We need the government to decide on our fate.\"<\/p>\n
The representatives of the conductors were received by A.
\nSukarna and A. Simandjuntak from the Armed Forces faction.<\/p>\n
According to Robin, the city bus conductors will only get
\ntheir monthly wages, between Rp 90,000 and Rp 100,000 (US$41.20
\nand $45.80), if PPD uses the new payment system, locally called
\nRMB (new method route) and it is applied to PATAS (express)
\nbuses.<\/p>\n
As it was before, he said, they could earn extra money as long
\nas they were able to pay the dues of Rp 130,000 per bus, per
\nhalf-day work.<\/p>\n
Robin refused to describe how much extra money but some
\nestimated that the amount could be around Rp 20,000 per crew.<\/p>\n
The house members vowed to convey their complaints to PPD and
\nto get more details from the minister of transportation.<\/p>\n
Reporters<\/p>\n
Earlier, 30 PPD conductors plying routes to Tangerang who
\nclaimed to represent all their colleagues, sought help by
\ntraveling to the office building of the local PWI (Indonesian
\nJournalists Association ) on Sunday.<\/p>\n
They were also worried that they might lose their jobs when
\nthe new system takes effect.<\/p>\n
They told a group of reporters there that the RMB would
\ndeprive them of their jobs when it takes effect later this month.
\nUnder the new system no conductors are needed to collect fares
\nfrom the passengers. Instead, the passengers pay the fares by
\ninserting money into a coin box installed near the driver's seat.<\/p>\n
In actuality PPD has operated the RMB system since 1992. But
\nat the time it was called the RMB 55 and was used only on a
\nspecial route linking Rawamangun in East Jakarta and Pasar Baru
\nbusiness district in Central Jakarta with 10 buses, several of
\nthem air-conditioned.<\/p>\n
The buses stop only at appointed bus shelters to pick up or
\ndrop off passengers, unlike the ordinary buses which often pick
\nup or drop off passengers away from designated bus stops. The
\nbuses also operate on schedule, providing certainty to passengers
\nas well as safety since the drivers are forbidden from speeding.<\/p>\n
One of the conductors, Amir Sibarani, said that more than 200
\nconductors have been laid off since the RMB 55 system was
\nstarted.<\/p>\n
\"We do not reject the system, but only urge that the
\nimplementation of it be postponed until we are able to get
\nanother job,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added since the operation of another type of RMB system for
\nair-conditioned buses early this year, many conductors have lost
\ntheir jobs.<\/p>\n
\"They came to the depot only to be told that there were no
\njobs for them. Eventually many of them were told by the company
\nto resign,\" Amir said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PPP director Yahya Subandi assured on Sunday that
\nhis company would pay serious attention to the plight of the
\nconductors.<\/p>\n
\"They should be inordinately worried about it. They will not
\nend up in misery. We will provide other jobs for them,\" Yahya
\nsaid. But he refused to go into detail and appeared evasive when
\npressed by persistent reporters about what exactly he meant by
\n\"other jobs.\" (bas\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/worried-conductors-protest-over-fare-collection-system-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}