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."