Bus fares to increase while thugs still extort drivers

Bus fares to increase while thugs still extort drivers

Leo Wahyudi S., The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Jakarta administration's plan to increase bus fares does not
necessarily mean improving drivers' welfare. Bus and public
minivan operators claim the benefits for them are limited as they
are also burdened with illegal fees, leading to a high-cost
operation.

Bus drivers complained to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that
they must allocate between Rp 30,000 (US$3.20) and Rp 50,000 for
"security fees" given to thugs in certain bus stations and
shelters.

"I have to pay the thugs nearly Rp 21,000 per day," complained
Narto, a 37-year-old driver of a medium-sized bus the plying
Kampung Melayu-Pondok Kopi route in East Jakarta.

Narto, as well as other drivers on the route, has to pay Rp
9,000 in illegal fees on each journey from one station to
another.

During an eight-hour workday -- from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Narto
pays a total of Rp 30,000 in illegal fees.

Besides the illegal fees, Narto also pays a Rp 130,000 daily
bus rental fee and Rp 90,000 for fuel.

"Our spending is very burdensome. I and Subeni, my conductor,
can only have Rp 10,000 for lunch and cigarettes," he said.

In short, Narto and Subeni must collect around Rp 250,000 to
earn a Rp 30,000 profit.

Narto claimed he could not envision a greater profit from the
administration's plan to increase bus fares by between 25 percent
and 40 percent following the fuel price hike of 14.46 percent on
average.

The last time the administration raised bus fares was on July
11, 2001, when the increase was between 28 percent and 50
percent.

Rendi, who works on a regular bus serving Grogol, West
Jakarta, and Kampung Rambutan, East Jakarta, expressed similar
concerns. He needs Rp 30,000 to pay the security fee during an
eight-hour workday.

"It's really burdensome because we still have to pay Rp
550,000 for the daily rental fee," he said.

Rendi named six bus stations and shelters -- Jl. Baru near the
Kampung Rambutan bus station, Halim Perdanakusuma shelter, UKI
shelter, Slipi Jaya shelter, Ciputra Mall shelter and Grogol
station -- where thugs at each bus stop regularly demand between
Rp 200 and Rp 1,000.

Air-conditioned bus crews have to allocate more money.

"We have to give them (the thugs) Rp 50,000 per day," groaned
Warpu, whose air-conditioned bus serves the Kampung Rambutan to
Cimone, Tangerang route.

"We have to pay them. They don't care if we object. If we
don't pay, the thugs along our route smash up the vehicle,
particularly the windows."

"If I'm lucky, I can bring home Rp 45,000. Most of the time I
earn less than Rp 30,000. How can we survive?" he said.

Bus companies have a superannuation scheme under which staff
deposit Rp 10,000 per day. The total amount can be withdrawn when
they quit or retire.

Unlike regular buses or public minivans, air-conditioned bus
crew do not have to pay daily rental but get a 12 percent
commission from their total daily revenue.

Besides the illegal fees paid to thugs, bus operators have to
pay "coordination fees" to the City Land Transportation Agency
(DLLAJ) and police officers.

Syam, not his real name, has worked for six years as an area
supervisor at a bus company in Kampung Melayu bus station, East
Jakarta.

"The company where I work has to provide Rp 1.8 million per
month for the officers to oversee our buses operating between
Kampung Melayu and Tomang, West Jakarta. The 'coordination fee'
varies depending on the area, but the amount is around that
figure," he said.

"However, the company benefits by paying the money. We always
get protection and privileges whenever our bus or crew are
involved in a traffic problem."

Syam disclosed that certain DLLAJ and police officers earned
between Rp 50,000 and Rp 350,000 from bus companies.

"We don't mind paying them because we also need their security
service," he said. "So far, it has worked well."