It's been three weeks for Dumeri, 50, and his colleagues guarding an empty gas station on Jl. Pangeran Dipenogoro in Central Jakarta.
The station was among the 10 that were shut down this month to restore green areas around the city.
While the administration was lauded for the action, several gas station attendants were left without alternative jobs.
Dumeri, who has been working at the Diponegoro gas station for the past 25 years, and his ex-workmates now receive Rp 35,000 (US$3.70) to take care of the station's office.
Dumeri said he wanted to move on, but had no means to since the company had not provided him with severance pay yet.
"I would like to start selling food, but I need start-up money," the father of six said last Sunday.
Dumeri said his boss, Amran, had promised to give him up to Rp 2 million as a termination payment.
State-owned PT Pertamina and Jakarta administration should take care of workers of the gas stations that were closed, he said.
"The promised severance pay would be enough for us to start our own businesses and support our daily needs," he said.
His wife understood the financial difficulty he was facing, Dumeri said, "but kids inevitably need to go to school".
"If there is anything we can do to pass on our wish to government officials or big bosses at PT Pertamina, we really hope they will visit take a look at us here," he said.
The Jakarta Post noted that the gas station site on Jl. Pangeran Dipenogoro is now occasionally used for parking by Ciptomangunkusumo Hospital visitors.
Meanwhile, Maman, 56, ex-worker of a disused gas station on Jl. Kwitang, Central Jakarta, said he and dozens of his former coworkers had just visited owner Sobri Nawawi regarding their severance pay.
"Our boss promised each of us Rp 2 million in severance pay. That's okay with us, but what we really want is a real solution from the authorities, because they left us jobless," he added.
The father of five said several city administration officers would visit ex-workers of the Kwitang's gas station on Dec. 5.
Because of the termination, his children had to be taken out of school, Maman said.
City Parks and Cemeteries Agency announced last month it would close 27 gas stations in Jakarta this year to restore the city's green spaces. The gas stations to be closed are situated in green areas.
According to agency head Ery Basworo, the agency would close 10 gas stations this month and the remaining 17 by the end of the year.
Among the 10 stations to be closed this month are those located on Jl. Hayam Wuruk and Jl. Kyai Tapa in West Jakarta, Jl. Suryo in South Jakarta and Jl. Abdul Muis in Central Jakarta.
