Kerosene lamps for hire at night markets

Kerosene lamps for hire at night markets

By Imran Rusli

JAKARTA (JP): There are lots of different jobs in Jakarta. It takes only some creativity and willingness for those who cannot find employment to earn a living. Add an instinct for business to that, and Ta da! The market is ready to absorb your ideas.

Fifty-six-year-old Sabar is an example of those people endowed with creativity and perseverance in the face of the hard life in this capital city of Jakarta.

Since 1971 he has been providing kerosene lamps for rent to night traders at the Kramat Jati market, East Jakarta.

He is not alone. In Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, 41-year-old Hasan has been in the same trade since 1983.

In an era when electricity has become a must in modern living, something that everybody takes for granted, it seems hard to believe that the old fashioned kerosene lamp is still in demand despite its complicated lighting method. But, fact proves otherwise. The number of people who offer kerosene lamps for rent is not abating in Jakarta; it is steadily growing in line with the number of lamps for hire.

"I started with 15 kerosene lamps, today I have 90 lamps," said Sabar. "First, I was the only one, now there are three of us."

A father of two children whose hometown is Jombang, East Java, Sabar has also provided Utomo, 22, his younger brother, with a job. There is no one more diligent in preparing the kerosene lamps than his younger brother. From the first step of filling the lamps with kerosene, changing the fuses, igniting and pumping up the oil when the light starts to dim, to arranging the lamps out of people's way, this is what Utomo does.

The lamps are usually put on display at the entrance of an alley, a spot where a heavy flow of pedestrians, night traders and other human traffic can be found.

Sabar and Utomo get there at 5 p.m. The lamps and kerosene cans are placed in a push cart which they rent for Rp 500 (21 US cents) per day. Since Sabar lives near the market, some 50 meters away from his house, he is never in a terrible hurry.

"Utomo often arrives first at the market, I'll come later after I've taken care of other things like getting enough fuses," explained Sabar, drawing deeply on a cigarette.

Those in the kerosene lamp renting business have to be prepared to go without a night's sleep since their customers are night traders, including food sellers. Sabar said that the work has affected his life cycle.

"I can't sleep in the evening now. Sleep only comes during the day," he said.

Hasan shares a similar problem.

"Especially around eight in the morning. Whew, I have a bad time keeping my eyes open," explained Hasan, owner of ten kerosene lamps who has one child.

At first glance, people like Sabar and Hasan, who are also found in other traditional night markets such as in Klender, Senen and Palmerah markets, must find the job exhausting, the threat of all sorts of sicknesses, not to mention the night air, the stench and the filth strewn everywhere, often blocking the ditches close to their business sites.

But what they make in one night would arouse the envy of every government employee.

"I rent out one kerosene lamp at between Rp 600 and Rp 700. The longer the evening, the more they have to pay," said Sabar.

To prevent customers from paying one rent fee, Sabar puts a limit to the amount of kerosene in each lamp.

"In short, the lamps are filled with enough kerosene for four to five hours only," he said.

This way, users are forced to ask for a refill and to pay up for a two lamps' fee," he said.

"They couldn't possibly refill the lamps themselves. They are reluctant to dirty their hands, let alone their merchandise, with kerosene. It would turn away potential customers. Aside from that, I would never allow this," said Sabar.

Of his 90 lamps, each night up to 80 are generally rented out. Most of the lamps are rented out twice.

As Sabar is renting out 100 lamps nightly at Rp600 per lamp, this would make him earn a gross income of Rp60,000 per night, or Rp1.8 million a month.

Sabar's nightly expenses amount to Rp 50,000. They include the usual Rp 2,000 fee for the thugs who prowl the market, Rp 1,000 for the Kramat Jati Market Authority, Rp500 to pay the site rent, 90 liters of kerosene of Rp36,000 and food, cigarette and coffee for two.

Also, every evening he should bring in at least 20 spare fuses since the constant wind at the market often destroys a fuse or two.

"A fuse costs Rp 200 per piece," said Sabar. After making a rough calculation, he earns a profit of Rp 10,000.

"It is still more than what my neighbor, a teacher in North Sumatra, is taking home," said Sabar, without boasting.

Hasan in Pasar Minggu rents out kerosene lamps at Rp 500 each. He earns Rp 2,000 in profit each evening.

"I plan to increase the number of lamps, but I haven't collected enough money yet," said this man from Garut, West Java, simply.

The income from renting out kerosene lamps is a tremendous economic prop for Sabar's family. Both his children are enjoying a high school education. One is studying at a technical high school and another is in the third year of junior high school.

"I'm lucky in that my children understand the sacrifice their father is making. They have never been involved in any gang fights," said Sabar with pride.

Somehow, it saddens him that he hardly has time to be with his children because he spends mornings catching up much needed sleep.

"But they often drop by in the evenings," he said, as if to give comfort to himself. "Especially Saturday evenings, when they do not have any homework."

Sabar's wife often drops in and that is enough to contribute to his happiness. Sharing a portion of fried rice or just sipping a cup of coffee together is all they do at the market.

"Since Utomo is helping me out, I can often play a game of chess or halma with the kids."

Sabar's words reflect a complete happiness.