Agus Salim (27), one of 1,600 janitors who are paid daily to clean all rivers in the capital city, is complaining about the absence of standard safety equipments during he and other janitors perform their duties. Moreover, many of his friends have injured because they stepped on nails or got bitten by snake when they plunged into the river.

Uniforms, boots, and cleavers are already provided. We just need to distribute them

“Many have injured because they stepped on nails or got bitten by snake when they plunged into the river. We should have equipped with safety equipments,” lamented Salim when met on Sentiong River, Kebon Kosong Urban Village, Kemayoran Sub-District, Central Jakarta, Sunday (4/20).

Regarding his payment, Salim told that it is never hampered. Since he was recruited, he was only asked to open bank account in DKI Bank.

“We could receive Rp 2.4 million a month. Alhamdulillah (praise to God) the payment is never late. The problem is only about safety equipments,” he uttered.

Responding such complaint, Head of Park Lane River Trash Handling Technical Implementation Unit (UPT), Budi Karya, informed that those janitors will soon be provided with standard safety equipments. Among those equipments are uniforms, boots, and cleavers.

“ Uniforms, boots, and cleavers are already provided. We just need to distribute them . We will also provide shells, plastic drums, sickles, machetes, dadung ropes, sacks, trash inlets, broom sticks, and mowers,” stated.

According to Karya, all of the equipments will be handed over after the administration process finished. He also admitted that many of those janitors, who are paid for Rp 80,252 per day, have suffered injuries caused by pieces of glass until bitten by leeches and snakes during their duties due to not equipped with safety equipments. In addition to standard safety equipments procurement, his party will also give training to those janitors.

“If the budget is ready, we will also give training to them,” he added.