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. (10)