The caretakers or coordinators of built landscapes (lokbin) in North Jakarta are restless with Jakarta Provincial Government’s plan to impose non-cash retribution through DKI Bank accounts. If the plan is realized, they are worried would having difficulties in covering market operational costs which all this time collected from traders’ retributions.

All this time, (North Jakarta KUMKMP) Sub-Department does not pay us (market management). So, if we were not allowed to collect retribution, how do we pay the caretakers who handle the market?

For information, in North Jakarta there are 24 built landscapes which known as JUs. And in those 24 JUs, there are 1,238 active traders. For start, non-cash retribution system will be trialed in JU 18 on Jalan Plumpang Raya, Rawabadak Selatan Urban Village, Koja Sub-District.

JU 18 coordinator, Ustafifi, admitted she is objected with non-cash retribution plan because all this time the retribution is used to cover market operational costs, such as paying janitors and security officers.

Besides the retribution deposited to North Jakarta Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and Trade (KUMKMP) Sub-Department, her party also collects sum amount of fees which have been agreed by the traders. From the fees, 14 JU 18 management consist of six security officers, two cleanliness officers, two retribution collection officers, and four caretakers, get paid.

“All this time, (North Jakarta KUMKMP) Sub-Department does not pay us (market management). So, if we were not allowed to collect retribution, how do we pay the caretakers who handle the market?” she asked.

Responding this, Head of North Jakarta KUMKMP Sub-Department, Almon Daniel, asserted that in accordance to street vendors data recording and validation program, non-cash retribution will be imposed through DKI Bank accounts. Thus, market management and caretakers are no longer allowed to collect retribution from the traders.

“If the traders agreed to pay fees for market operational, go ahead. All this time we don’t pay market coordinators because they are traders too,” he uttered.

According to Daniel, data recording will be conducted soon to validate the amount of street vendors. When it is finished, street vendors are no longer allowed to trade haphazardly in JU locations.