The Rise of Street-Cart Buskers in Jakarta Is Not Just About Public Order, but a Crisis in Employability Skills

Jakarta — The Jakarta Provincial Social Service Office (Dinsos) says the surge of roaming street-cart buskers with loudspeakers in several areas of the capital is driven by economic hardship and limited employability skills among vulnerable communities. The phenomenon is increasingly visible in densely populated residential areas and narrow lanes across Senen, Paseban, Kramat, Matraman, and Manggarai, especially in the late afternoon and evening. Head of Jakarta Pusat Social Service Sub-agency, Agus Aripianto, said that the use of large loudspeakers by buskers is an adaptation to attract residents’ attention to raise daily income. He added that street busker activity cannot be looked at solely as a public-order issue. Dinsos notes the root cause lies in economic vulnerability and limited skills among some segments of society, making the streets the primary option for them. “Dinsos sees this phenomenon as rooted in economic vulnerability and skill limitations, so the streets remain their main choice,” Agus said. He explained that the agency continues to monitor and engage with PPKS, including street buskers in Central Jakarta. According to Dinsos Jakarta Pusat data, during 2025 there were 112 buskers reached out of a total of 1,245 PPKS. “The breakdown is dominated by general buskers with 67 people and clown buskers with 23 people, including those who busk with music boxes and other variations,” Agus said. By April 2026, 109 street buskers had been reached by social workers in Central Jakarta. He said the street PPKS who are captured will be directed to the Bangun Daya Social Welfare Home (PSBI Bangun Daya) owned by the Provincial DKI Jakarta Social Service. “At the home, they receive physical, mental, and spiritual guidance. They will then be assessed for potential placement at a continued welfare home or a specific job-training programme to develop life skills and avoid returning to the streets,” Agus said. Dinsos also claims the handling is conducted humanely in collaboration with Satpol PP. “Satpol PP carries out enforcement in public spaces under Perda No. 8 of 2007 on Public Order as long as the activity is proven to disrupt public order,” Agus said. Dinsos, meanwhile, through P3S officers, accompanies the enforcement process to ensure PPKS are treated humanely. Kompas.com spoke to several roaming street-cart buskers operating in the Senen area. With simple carts containing improvised loudspeakers and car batteries, they traverse major roads and into narrow residential lanes to collect small change from the public’s generosity. Some buskers push blue carts fitted with two large speakers and a basic music player. They move from one alley to another, occasionally stopping in front of shops or houses.