Traders complain of quiet conditions

JAKARTA: Traders at Kebon Jati Market in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta are complaining about quiet business conditions, saying that their incomes had dropped significantly since they were moved into their new kiosks.

"As you can see, there are no buyers here," Vini, 40, one of the traders, was quoted by Antara as saying on Sunday.

She said she could only stay in business because trading was only a side job for her. Vini is a teacher.

She said that many traders had returned to Jl. Kebon Jati, but they only used their kiosks for storing goods.

Over 1,200 street vendors were relocated from Jl. Kebon Jati to the third and fourth floors of the Kebon Jati Market last November when city market operator PD Pasar Jaya needed the space to construct temporary kiosks on the roads.

Traders have to pay Rp 15 million for a kiosk, each measuring 1.5 meters x 1 meter.

Vini doubted that traders would be able to pay the installments on their kiosks if the city administration did not crack down on street vendors still in Jl. Kebon Jati. --JP