TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsCafe musicians protest at denial of livelihoods
The musicians, whose livelihoods depend on performing live in cafes and restaurants, have not been able to work since the administration applied large-scale social restrictions (PSBB).
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
The musicians, whose livelihoods depend on performing live in cafes and restaurants, have not been able to work since the administration applied large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). (Shutterstock/pakawat_p)
M
usicians grouped under the Indonesian Cafe Musicians Association (PMCI) staged a rally in front of City Hall on Wednesday, demanding a solution to their lack of income caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The musicians, whose livelihoods depend on performing live in cafes and restaurants, have not been able to work since the administration applied large-scale social restrictions (PSBB).
“We haven’t worked for four months. There has been no income whatsoever because we are restricted from performing in cafes or restaurants,” PMCI spokesperson Aray Aryad said as quoted by tempo.co.
“Some of us have sold our instruments. We have no other means of work.”
According to Aray, cafe musicians are daily workers who do not receive monthly salaries let alone benefits. They get paid only when they perform.
The rallying musicians demanded that Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan allow them to play music again in establishments. They are ready to comply with the administration’s health protocols.
“Cafe musicians will not attract crowds, unlike music concerts. So please differentiate from that,” Aray said.
Meanwhile, the Jakarta administration said that it encouraged establishments to keep musicians employed during the pandemic.
Read also: Only drive-in concerts allowed during transition phase
“We are encouraging cafe musicians to record their performances, which can be then played in cafes to replace live music,” Cucu Ahmad Kurnia, head of the Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, said as quoted by tempo.co.
Cucu said he had met with PMCI representatives and had agreed on negotiations to record their performances.
He said cafes would have to provide special screens to accommodate the performance videos of musicians who used to work for them.
“So, the musicians will still get paid although only performing through a recording,” Cucu said.
The agency said it would immediately send letters to establishments to restart cooperation with the cafe musicians.
Many Jakarta restaurants have resumed dine-in services after months of closure caused by the pandemic. Major cinema chains are also set to welcome moviegoers again under the so-called "new normal" protocols starting July 29. The agency will allow music concerts as well, but only in outdoor, drive-in form. (gis/kes)
