Life is tough for motorcycle taxi drivers

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As a crowded bus stops to let off passengers a number of motorcycle taxi drivers begin waving their hands to offer their services. That is an everyday sight along many of Jakarta's main thoroughfares.

"Ojek (motorcycle taxi) is the best way for people to reach their offices quickly because of a lack of buses and too much traffic," said Senen, 40, a motorcycle taxi driver on Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta.

However, Senen grumbled that the number of motorcycle taxi drivers in the city rose remarkably following the economic crisis that struck in 1997.

"Before the crisis, there were only dozens of motorcycle taxi drivers around here. But now, as you can see, there are hundreds," said Senen, who has been working as a motorcycle taxi driver since 1992.

The economic crisis resulted in massive layoffs by companies forced to implement a number of belt-tightening measures to survive. Many of these newly unemployed people turned to the informal sector to earn a living, including joining the ranks of motorcycle taxi drivers. Passengers usually pay these drivers between Rp 2,000 and Rp 5,000 for a short trip.

"Now we have to compete for passengers because there are lots of drivers and fewer passengers," said Senen, pointing to the many office buildings left empty in the wake of the crisis.

Due to the increased competition, Senen said he earned between Rp 30,000 and Rp 40,000 a day. Before the crisis, and the devaluation of the rupiah, he was earning about Rp 20,000 a day.

"In terms of value, the money I make now is less than what I made before the crisis. The increased price of basic commodities must be taken into account," he said.

Projo, 35, who works as a motorcycle taxi driver on Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta, agreed with Senen that the competition for passengers had gotten a lot tougher.

"The most annoying thing is that we have to compete not only with full-time motorcycle taxi drivers but also with those who are only moonlighting as motorcycle taxi drivers," Projo said.

However, he said he still made more money as a motorcycle taxi driver than he did selling fruit juice.

"I quit selling fruit juice in 1997 when my business fell, and since then I have been a motorcycle taxi driver," said Projo.

He said that when he went around with his pushcart selling fruit juice, he only made a small profit of about Rp 10,000 a day. Now he is able to make an average of Rp 30,000 a day, working 13 hours from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wagiman, 25, who drives a motorcycle taxi on Jl. Setiabudi in South Jakarta said he originally wanted to open a small vehicle repair shop, a dream he forfeited for the chance to become a civil servant.

"But all my money went to bribe an official at the Ministry of Transportation who promised me a job as a civil servant," said Wagiman, who graduated from a technical high school in 1994.

He said he did not get the job and with the economic crisis it was impossible to secure a business loan.

"That's why I chose to become a motorcycle taxi driver. But I hope this is only a temporary job. If I find a better job, I'll take it," Wagiman said.

Besides the tough competition, motorcycle taxi drivers also have to be on the alert for criminals posing as passengers.

"Earlier this year, a man pretended to be a passenger and asked me to drive him to several different places. Before he went into a drug store, he borrowed Rp 40,000 from me, saying, 'I left my wallet in my office. I'll pay you back when we get back to my office.' But he disappeared after entering the building," Wagiman said.

There have also been numerous reports of armed robbers stealing motorcycles by posing a passengers.

"I hope that doesn't happen to me," Wagiman said.