Cart-Pushers Phenomenon in Jakarta, Pramono: We Have Suppressed It

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has stressed that enforcement against Penyandang Masalah Kesejahteraan Sosial (PMKS) in public spaces continues, with the so-called ‘cart-pushers’ among those targeted on city streets. “We have conducted enforcement, including the so-called ‘cart-pushers’. Alhamdulillah now on the streets it is not as it used to be,” Pramono said at City Hall on Wednesday, 4 March. He described the move as part of efforts to safeguard Jakarta’s image as a globally recognised, orderly and humane city. On the same day the DKI provincial government inaugurated functional officers for the Satpol PP, who are largely expected to be reinforced on the ground. “Coincidentally today the functional Satpol PP members were inaugurated, most of whom will be reinforced on the ground. We will ask them to take firm action against beggars in Jakarta. Because that does not reflect a global city,” he said. Nevertheless, Pramono stressed that enforcement is not solely about expulsion. The government, he added, must still bear responsibility for opening fair working spaces for all residents. “As a government, we certainly want all people in Jakarta to have the opportunity to work. So working space must be opened fairly,” he said. One policy initiative mentioned by Pramono was the relaxation of educational requirements for Penyedia Jasa Lainnya Perorangan (PJLP), including cleaning staff known as the orange-clad troops. Previously the minimum was a high school diploma (SMA); now a primary school diploma (SD) suffices. “For example, PJLP who used to require SMA for the orange-troop, now SD is enough. This is one of the breakthroughs we are delivering to give everyone the chance to work in Jakarta,” he concluded. (H-3)