Bus and taxi rents must be fixed: SPSI

JAKARTA (JP): Apart from determining new fares for economy class buses and taxis, the government needs to stipulate the amount of rent drivers have to pay to their employers, an official of the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation said yesterday.

"The objective is for the drivers to benefit from the fare hikes. It could also prevent bus and taxi owners from raising the rents at will," MCH David, the head of the union's transportation section, told Antara.

He said if the government does not regulate rent levels, the increased fares will only benefit the owners of the vehicles.

As a result, David said, the drivers will be forced to work extra hard to collect enough money to pay the rental fees.

"The drivers may begin to neglect giving good service to passengers as their minds will be preoccupied by thoughts on how to earn enough money. City bus drivers will be even more reluctant to pick up students who only have to pay Rp 100," said David.

This, he pointed out, runs counter to the statement of Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto, who announced the fare hikes on April 3. The measures, he said, are aimed at making sure that fares are commensurate with the level of service provided.

The new fares for domestic land, sea and air transportation went into effect April 4.

The fare for regular city buses was raised from Rp 250 to Rp 300. The highest hike of 66.7 percent was for taxi flagfalls, which were increased from Rp 900 to Rp 1,500. For every next kilometer the fare will be Rp 550, up 22.2% from Rp 450 per kilometer.

Fares for air-conditioned buses and minivans, locally called Mikrolet, are not regulated by the government and determined by their operators.(bas)