Vendors get little extra space in city markets

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)