Taxi drivers enjoy big profit

Taxi drivers enjoy big profit

JAKARTA: Taxi drivers working during the Idul Fitri holidays
have enjoyed a 40 percent increase in income over their normal
day-to-day earnings.

Suherman, a taxi driver, told The Jakarta Post that he has
been taking home some Rp 200,000 a day, 40 percent more than what
he usually earns.

But, he added, there has been no increase in the number of
taxis owned by his company out on the street.

"It's hard to get a taxi on the holidays, due to the
increasing demand," he said, noting that his company owns over
1,000 cabs.

Although some taxi drivers have left the city to celebrate
Idul Fitri, this is not believed to be a factor in the number of
taxis on the roadways because each cab is used by two drivers
over the course of a 24-hour period, Suherman said.

Based on Suherman's experience, most passengers were families
seeking to visit recreational areas, or to visit their relatives.

Due to high demand, some taxi drivers have refused to take
people with running meters, instead bargaining for an agreed-upon
fare before reaching a destination.--JP