T

he Jakarta administration’s attempt to make Fatahillah Square in Kota Tua, West Jakarta, a well-organized tourist spot by relocating hundreds of street vendors to a nearby open field on Jl. Cengkeh in September seems to have failed.

On Saturday morning, street vendors selling head coverings, selfie sticks, bracelets, watches, sunglasses and beverages were seen busily offering their goods to hundreds of tourists visiting one of the city’s favorite destinations.

A 32-year-old vendor, Aldi, said he had tried to sell head coverings, such as bandanas, and selfie sticks at the field on Jl. Cengkeh for a month in September, but he hardly earned any money each day because the place was rarely visited.

He said that visitors to the historic attraction had to cross a road and walk about 500 meters away from Fatahillah Square to reach the field. “It can be said that I didn’t get profits at all by trading there,” Aldi told The Jakarta Post, adding that he could earn up to Rp 1 million (US$77) per day by trading near the square every weekend.

The same thing was echoed by another vendor, Rudi, 27, who had tried to sell watches at the field but decided to be a street vendor again after a week-long trial.

Rudi said that he could barely sell one or two watches after the relocation, while on the side of a street near Fatahillah Square he could sell at least 10 watches for Rp 50,000 each, every day.

“I wouldn’t be able to support my family if I continued trading on Jl. Cengkeh,” said the father of two who lives in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, adding that he had to pay rent for a stall at the field, which cost about Rp 300,000 per month.

Rudi and Aldi were two of 415 street vendors who were relocated in September from Fatahillah Square to the open field, where hundreds of stalls stand.

Some of the vendors, including both of the men, had decided to leave the stalls and trade near Fatahillah Square again despite the possible consequence of being raided by the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP).

The men admitted that they preferred to be chased by the agency’s officers every day rather than to not earn any money.

Meanwhile, a 36-year-old T-shirt vendor on Jl. Cengkeh, Torisa, said she was tired of running away from the Satpol PP every day, so she decided to sell her goods at the place that had been established by the city administration for vendors from the historic site.

She, however, complained about the small number of visitors coming to Jl. Cengkeh, which made her income decline significantly compared to when she was still trading near Fatahillah Square.

“I used to get at least Rp 500,000 a day by trading near the square, but now I am grateful enough for being able to get Rp 50,000 per day,” said the mother of three from Banyumas in Central Java.

“I am no longer sending Rp 2 million to my children in Banyumas every month because of this situation. I even borrowed Rp 10 million from my mother-in-law lately to finance my family needs.”

Torisa has asked the administration to find solutions for the obedient vendors who still remain on Jl. Cengkeh. (vny)