Street vendors not dregs of society

From Warta Kota

The recent raids (euphemistically termed "acts of rectification" by officials) on Jakarta's street vendors have caused much apprehension because the Jakarta city administration's public order officers often physically abuse the vendors.

There is a double standard involved as on one hand they try to enforce the law by removing the vendors from their current locations, while on the other hand various kinds of taxes and fees are levied on the vendors. Naturally, the vendors strongly feel they have good grounds for which to complain against the unfair treatment they receive.

The street vendors are always labeled as the "bad guys" or looked upon as the ones to blame for the city's problems, such as traffic jams and poor sanitation. But then, what has happened to the money collected in the name of the above taxes and fees (which were meant to pay for security, and keeping the city clean and orderly)? As citizens, haven't the vendors paid their dues?

City Bylaw No. 11/1988 refers to the street vendors as "the creators of problems related to social welfare and society's well-being". However, it does not mean that based on this regulation the public order personnel are authorized to treat them inhumanely.

The above regulation must be changed and the existence of street vendors should be recognized because they are certainly not the dregs of society and, on the contrary, contribute to daily economic activities.

The city should issue fair and proportional regulations and policies that will let them keep their businesses, possibly at different but properly supervised locations.

JIO SANTOS

Jakarta