Unregistered drivers blamed for strikes
Unregistered drivers blamed for strikes
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja blamed unregistered
bus drivers Monday for having caused intermittent strikes in the
past two weeks.
But drivers in South Jakarta said yesterday they were working
hard to secure their jobs.
"To be a permanent driver, we have to pay between Rp 150,000
(US$61.29) and Rp 300,000 as down payment to bus owners," said
driver Rajimin, 44, who was waiting for orders in Poltangan, near
Pasar Minggu.
Rajimin said competition was tight to obtain authorized
driving permits from bus owners, who do not immediately trust
applicants.
"Besides," he said, "my monthly income rarely reaches Rp
200,000, so it's impossible to be part of a bus company."
The unregistered drivers, called sopir tembak, said they had
not joined the strike -- "but we also feel emotional over news of
new vehicles," Rajimin said.
If news that the City Land Transport Agency (DLLAJ) was going
to replace many medium-sized buses with big buses to alleviate
congestion was true, "it would mean the end for us," Rajimin
said.
Many unregistered drivers would lose their only source of
income, other drivers said.
The daily routine of these drivers was to wait for orders to
substitute for registered drivers, who were either to tired or
uneager to work because of a drop in passengers.
"I've been unemployed for four days," said Rajimin, a father
of six, who was waiting for orders while playing chess.
As substitutes for S604 Metromini buses plying the route
between Pasar Minggu and Tanah Abang, Rajimin and his colleagues
all had bus uniforms borrowed from regular drivers.
"If there's a raid (in which unregistered drivers are caught
without licenses), we bribe police Rp 10,000," Imam, his friend,
said.
Tari, 42, a sopir tembak of S68 Kopaja buses plying the route
between Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta and the Ragunan Zoo, South
Jakarta, said he was dependent on the mercy of registered
drivers.
"I don't have to give fees to bus owners, but I really want to
become an authorized bus driver," Tari said, because his unstable
job was a problem each time undercover officials checked drivers'
registration cards.
The drivers also expected DLLAJ to help reduce illegal levies
collected by official or unofficial people at terminals, or even
at intersections.
"Bus drivers are burdened by levies. Sometimes we don't know
what they are for, but some definitely go to the police," a
driver said.
An officer from a South Jakarta regional military district,
who requested anonymity, said that certain authorities received
'bonuses' for "security and supervision purposes" but denied that
the levies had ignited strikes.
A person at an intersection on Jl. Duren Tiga, Mampang
Prapatan, also South Jakarta, said he collected Rp 1,500 from
every passing S68 bus for "security reasons".
For instance, every S62 Kopaja bus, plying between Manggarai
and Pasar Minggu, should pay Rp 7,800 in daily levies, which
includes fees for security, route payments (uang jalur) and
savings, in case bus windows were smashed, or other repairs, the
man from Pasar Minggu said.
"It's crazy, but the agency has not shown any attempt to
remedy the situation," Imam, a driver, said. Apart from the news
of new buses, "the daily levies also add to our anger," he said.
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