Street vendors not dregs of society

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