Taman Puring Traders Report Declining Income Following 2025 Fire
A number of traders in the Taman Puring market area, South Jakarta, have reported a decline in income since a fire struck the area in 2025, forcing trading activities to move to temporary stalls.
“Previously, people felt comfortable shopping here. Now, it is hot and makeshift. Buyers are still around, but they have decreased significantly,” said Asmun, the Coordinator of Taman Puring Stall Traders, when met at the market on Wednesday.
Asmun stated that the post-fire conditions have caused the number of customers to drop drastically compared to when the market was operating normally. Having traded clothing at Taman Puring for over two decades, he admitted his income has plummeted. From a previous monthly income of approximately Rp2 million, his earnings now hover around Rp1.5 million or even less. “That is only enough for daily meals. I have three children, all of whom are still in school,” he added.
Similar complaints were voiced by Soleh, a sports shoe trader who has also been operating in the area for over 20 years. Soleh noted that trading conditions have changed significantly because vendors are now operating with minimal facilities and cannot carry large amounts of stock.
“The income is clearly different. Because we are selling here with whatever is available, we cannot bring much stock. However, it is still enough to make ends meet,” said Soleh. He noted that the temporary stall conditions make trading activities unstable as customer footfall is unpredictable.
Soleh mentioned that the prices of the shoes he sells range from Rp50,000 to Rp100,000 per pair, with uncertain profit margins. During busy periods, he can sell up to 20 pairs of shoes per day, but this does not happen every day as it depends on the number of customers.
Previously, the Governor of Jakarta, Pramono Anung Wibowo, approved a proposal from the Mayor of South Jakarta, Muhammad Anwar, to construct a disability park in Taman Puring, South Jakarta. He requested that the proposal for the disability park construction be submitted before 1 June 2026 and instructed the Jakarta Development Assistant to allocate funds so that the park can be built promptly.