E. Jakarta to issue cards to vendors

JAKARTA: The East Jakarta administration plans to issue special registration cards for street vendors in order to avoid illegal fees being imposed on them by people claiming to be administration officials.

Deputy Mayor Darwin Dahlan confirmed the plan on Friday.

"We'll give them special cards for that purpose," he said.

There are currently 527 vendors registered with the East Jakarta municipality who conduct business at kiosks provided by the administration.

"Vendors, who are not on our list of 527, will not get the special cards," Darwin said, as quoted by Beritajakarta.com.

The administration has assigned officials from the Public Order Office and Public Protection Agency to protect street vendors from people collecting illegal fees.

Darwin said the 527 vendors would be invited to the administration's office next week to introduce the registration cards.

One of the vendors at Kampung Melayu, Anwar Anas, praised the proposal.

"We're fed up of being forced to pay so many illegal fees. I support the administration's efforts to eradicate such practices." -- JP