Illegal levies rampant in Bekasi

Illegal levies rampant in Bekasi

BEKASI (JP): Bus drivers here are complaining about rampant
levies, both illegal and legal, that are severely squeezing their
daily incomes.

They said yesterday they had to spend about Rp 5,000 (65 U.S.
cents) a day to pay the numerous levies, reducing their daily net
income to about Rp 15,000.

"The income is much less if we happen to have a flat tire or
the bus runs out of oil," said 50-year-old Husni, a minivan
driver who work from 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Husni hires the minivan for Rp 35,000 a day.

The drivers said they had no objection to paying levies as
long as the money went to the state coffers.

A lot of levies the drivers have to pay are illegal because
they have no legal basis and the officials in charge refuse to
give receipts, another driver Aep, 31, said.

Marsono Sumarno, chairman of Bekasi city council's Commission
D for transportation, urged the administration to stop the
illegal levies.

He said corrupt practices were so bad that bus drivers were
required to pay levies which in fact should be paid by the bus
owners.

Marsono also called on bus companies to stop treating drivers
like milch cows, Antara reported.