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.