'I'll have to find side jobs'

Recent fuel price rises have led to increases in the prices of other services and commodities, which has considerably reduced people's purchasing power. The Jakarta Post asked two media workers who spent a lot of their income on transportation expenses and how the increases affect their daily lives.

Sony Arianto Kurniawan, 28, is a media worker in Jl. HR Rasuna Said, South Jakarta. He lives in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta:

I think the government is pretty smart raising fuel prices just before the fasting month; imagine if it was otherwise, people's reaction would be even more extreme. This way people will only feel the pinch of the increases later, because during the fasting month people are normally more economical.

But its impact on my daily transportation expenditure is pretty steep. Before, I could get to the office with only Rp 4,500 (about 45 US cents) and changing cars three times. Now I have to spend more than Rp 6,500. Taxis too, it's not immediately felt now, but later on ... (the increases) will effect everything, even my food and clothing expenditures.

Rusdianto, 30, is a reporter in Tebet, South Jakarta. He lives in Pondok Gede, Bekasi:

For me the worst increase is the transportation fares. You know how it is with reporters, we have to keep mobile. On the other hand, my salary has not been adjusted for the increases yet.

And now I hear that taxi fares will go up to 38 percent! I'm going to feel that bad.

I reckon my daily spending has risen about 40 percent now, what with transportation and meals, and there's nothing I can do about it, except maybe find more side jobs.

-- The Jakarta Post