Vendors get little extra space in city markets

JAKARTA (JP): Hopes that the city's market firm could provide extra space for vendors during Ramadhan cannot be met because of overcrowded markets.

An official of the firm, PD Pasar Jaya, said Friday only 10 sites on market grounds in South and Central Jakarta are allotted as extra spaces for vendors.

The company's business director, Hamzah Jaspinoe, said over the weekend 1,069 spaces were provided, with fees ranging from Rp 20,000 (US$8.5) to Rp 1 million per space, depending on size and location.

"We can't provide spaces for traders in other mayoralties because it is not possible (to find space)," Hamzah said.

This ran contrary to earlier estimates by Pasar Jaya's public relations officer, Lihardin Sipayung, who said 90 percent of 265 markets run by the firm would provide extra space for vendors. PD Pasar Jaya listed 80,000 traders while the city estimated around 40,000 illegal traders operate here.

Last week, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Idroes told the company management to provide an area for traders and sidewalk vendors to prevent them taking up space on the roads.

Councilors also hoped Pasar Jaya would provide extra space in line with the city's annual policy.

Every Ramadhan month the municipality aims to provide space for vendors who cannot afford legitimate space.

Lihardin said Pasar Jaya usually provides extra space for sidewalk vendors and also extra operating time for existing vendors.

Given space limits, Hamzah said there would be more existing traders having extra operating time compared to additional space for sidewalk vendors.

Normally, he said, traders operate from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., but during Ramadhan, they can operate from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

He said traders can take up the allocated spaces after the company's president director signs the firm's decree later this week.

However, Hamzah acknowledged several traders have already taken up space around markets because of the increasing demand from consumers and traders.

In previous years traders have not complained about rates, Hamzah said.

Markets which have been given extra space include Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, where parking lots near Block F have been converted into extra trading sites during Ramadhan.

Other traders cannot be given more opportunity to take up the space because this would mean the need to provide new sites, he said.

"The fact is, there are no empty sites," Hamzah said. Remaining space around markets are only for parking space and sidewalks, he said.

Hamzah said many aspects should be considered in determining space for traders in view of other interests. Areas are at least around three square meters each.

The fees were set based on suggestions from mayoralty officials who were considered familiar with traders' financial ability in their areas, he said.

Prices have been carefully calculated and if set too low it would give traders the opportunity to sell the space to others, Hamzah said.

"We aim to make sure that traders who get the spaces are those who really need them," Hamzah said.

In South Jakarta, the allotted 619 spaces are in Cipulir, Kebayoran Lama, Blok M Melawai, Blok A and Pasar Minggu markets.

In Blok M, the 130 spaces are charged Rp 75,000 to Rp1 million. The latter fee is charged to the six spaces considered most strategic.

In Pasar Cipulir, there are 100 spaces with fees from Rp 150,000 to Rp 200,000 and Kebayoran Lama has 110 spaces costing Rp 75,000 to Rp 125,000. Pasar Minggu will provide 252 spaces with fees from Rp 20,000 to Rp 75,000. In Blok A, fees for 27 spaces are Rp 60,000.

In Central Jakarta, 250 sites in Tanah Abang are for the existing 46 traders and others from nearby Jl. Fachrudin and around Kebon Jati. Spaces here range between Rp 200,000 and Rp 300,000.

Pasar Senen has 61 spaces with an average price of Rp 75,000, while fees for 46 spaces in Bendungan Hilir are Rp 100,000.

In Palmerah, 80 spaces are charged between Rp 25,000 and Rp 100,000. (ste)