Facing problems in hiring driver
Facing problems in hiring driver
JAKARTA (JP): Noticing that I had been without a driver for a
couple of weeks, Pak Hansip (the civilian security guard) of our
RT (neighborhood) came to our house one morning with a young man
he thought I could hire as a driver. I told them that I had
decided not to hire a new driver for the time being.
Pak Hansip pleaded with me and begged me to help this guy as
he had been out of job since Lebaran. Aha! That rang warning
bells! During the Lebaran period, people like him would often
stay in their kampung a week or two longer than agreed, and on
returning to Jakarta they usually found out that their juragan
(boss) had hired somebody else. Perfectly understandable, as his
or her business could not be put on hold while the driver was
having fun with old friends and relatives back home in his
village.
He must have caught me in a weak mood. After listening to
their pleas, I decided to give him a try. I had had to fire my
previous driver because he had started acting funny right after
Lebaran -- when there was no THR or other bonuses to look forward
to for another year. So I told myself, "Who knows, maybe this guy
will be better? Who knows, he may not drive me crazy. Who knows,
maybe he will stay with us and give us years and years and years
of excellent service. He could be a Godsend."
But of course I had to see how well he drove first. Therefore,
after examining his driver's license, I handed him the car key
and said, "Let's go for a ride."
Well, right from the start I knew he was not an experienced
driver at all. The engine was being revved all the time, and the
car juddered along like a dune buggy on a beach run. He didn't
change gears even when we were traveling well above 30 km/h. He
plunged into potholes without reducing his speed. Twice he almost
slammed into the rear of a stopping Kopaja. Obviously, he had not
driven much. He had probably just bought a license.
Then he invited me to his home. I said OK. If Pak Hansip knew
him as well as he had told me, this guy could not be a criminal,
thus there would be no harm in going. So off we went.
Like millions of other people in Jakarta, his family lived in
a small rented room about two by two and a half square meters.
The room was their bedroom and kitchen at the same time. They had
an eighteen-month-old toddler who couldn't walk or talk yet. The
wife didn't work. Worse, still, as he had told me, he had been
out of job for two months.
Something was telling me I should help this family. Nobody
should live in Jakarta without any regular, legitimate income. If
I could help him, perhaps I could prevent one more person from
becoming a criminal. But, how could I help him if he couldn't
really drive?
So when we got back to my house, I told him that he was a
lousy driver, but that I was willing to give him a chance. I
would teach him to drive in a civilized way, I would train him,
and I would let him practice in my car. I also told him that,
since I was going to take a risk and spend so much time on him, I
was not going to give him a monthly salary. I would give him Rp
5.000 per day, and that was all. I also told him that only when I
felt comfortable with his driving would I formally hire him and
pay him a standard salary. I figured I would need at the most a
month to train him. I politely told him to consider it and come
back the next day if he thought he would take the job -- and the
opportunity.
At 7 a.m. the next day, he didn't show up. Nor at 8 a.m. Not
until 9:30 a.m. did he turn up. I gave him a piece of cloth and a
bucket, and I told him to start washing the car. Then I went back
inside to continue working on my computer. After a while, not
hearing any activity outside, I went back out and found him
squatting by the empty bucket. I asked him, "Why aren't you
washing the car?" He retorted, "I'd like to talk with you first."
Then he explained that he couldn't live and support his family on
only Rp 5,000 per day. I asked him how much he wanted, and he
said, "How about Rp 10,000?"
I was utterly shocked. I agreed that on Rp 5,000 per day he
would indeed have difficulty surviving, as he would have to pay
for his own transportation and lunch, too. But Rp 10,000 per day?
And with his qualifications? I said to him, "OK, I'll pay you Rp
6,500 per day, which is what people usually pay a newly hired
driver." He was still not interested, and lowered his offer to Rp
8,000. I was flabbergasted. Look at this man: He said he had been
out of job for two months. He had a wife who didn't work and a
sick son. He was offered a job with a decent income, and -- most
galling -- the chance to learn to drive properly. Still he
haggled.
Once again I told him to think it over and come back the next
morning if he thought he was interested. But, after he had left,
I realized that I was no longer interested. So when he turned up
the next day, I lied and told him we had decided to sell our car.
What would you do with such a man? He is one of many. Life is
becoming harder and harder, yet people like him prefer
joblessness to working for a reasonable and decent income -- even
when the latter clearly brings with it an opportunity for
advancement.
It's scary. But what can one do?
-- Zatni Arbi