Between Parking Tickets and QR Codes

Surabaya (ANTARA) - That morning, on one of the busy streets of Surabaya City, a motorcyclist stopped briefly. After parking his vehicle, he reached into his wallet, preparing small change as usual. This time, however, the parking attendant directed a small phone in his hand, offering payment via QR code. A simple change, but not everyone is ready to accept it. Behind that small moment lies a major policy being tested. The Surabaya City Government has frozen the permits of around 600 official parking attendants who refuse to switch to the digital system. This step appears firm, even harsh to some parties. On the other hand, it reflects a serious effort to reorganise the face of public services that have long been a source of public complaints. Digitalisation of parking is not just about replacing cash with electronic transactions. It touches many layers, from income transparency and public trust to the livelihoods of thousands of informal workers who have depended on the old system. Tug of War For years, parking issues in big cities like Surabaya have been almost repetitive. Inconsistent fees, potential illicit levies, and unclear deposits have been classic complaints. Meanwhile, local governments also face revenue leakage problems from original local revenue (PAD) in this sector. Digitalisation emerges as the answer. With a cashless system, every transaction is recorded. There is no more grey area between the money paid by users and what enters the regional treasury. Data from the Surabaya City Government shows that digital parking implementation has begun at dozens of strategic points, with public support reaching around 85-90 percent. Nevertheless, that support figure does not immediately erase resistance on the ground. The 600 parking attendants whose permits have been frozen serve as an indicator that change does not always run smoothly. Reasons for rejection vary. Some do not yet have bank accounts, others struggle to operate digital devices, and there are concerns about reduced income. In the new scheme, revenue sharing is done through the banking system, with a composition of 60 percent for the government and 40 percent for the parking attendants (jukir). For some jukir, this system is seen as more transparent, but for others, it feels binding and reduces the flexibility they have had so far. Herein lies the dilemma of public policy, between promoting modernisation and ensuring no group is left behind. The permit suspension becomes a signal that the government does not want to compromise on transparency, but firm policies, without mature adaptation strategies, have the potential to create new problems, especially in the informal sector that is highly sensitive to change.