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treet vendors selling near Asemka Market in Glodok, West Jakarta, have rejected the city administration'€™s proposal to relocate them to the nearby Perniagaan Market in Tambora, West Jakarta.

Earlier this year, the city administration announced plans to relocate these street vendors, not market merchants as previously reported in The Jakarta Post.

On regular days, hundreds of vendors set up makeshift kiosks, taking up space on sidewalks and almost half the road. Some also set up kiosks under the Asemka overpass, making it very difficult for cars and trucks to use the road.

Located near the busy Jakarta Kota train station, the vendors contribute to the already heavy traffic congestion.

One vendor, 32-year-old Tarisa, who sells wedding souvenirs, said that relocation to Perniagaan Market would cause a drop in sales.

'€œI sell on the streets because it is easier to find customers,'€ Tarisa said.

Moreover, she said, it was well known that Perniagaan Market had few visitors.

Tarisa added that she paid a Rp 20,000 (US$1.65) fee to a '€œvendor organizer'€ to sell on the streets. '€œIf I sold inside a market, the fee would surely be a lot more,'€ she said.

Another vendor, 35-year-old Andi, who sells bags, also refused relocation, citing similar reasons.

'€œWe are happy out here. I am worried that our sales would drop if we were relocated into Perniagaan Market,'€ Andi said.

He cited the Blok G market situation at Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta, where hundreds of street vendors, who had previously sold on the nearby Jl. Kebon Jati, had been relocated.

'€œWe don'€™t want to be just another Blok G situation. The streets are clean, but the vendors are suffering,'€ Andi said.

Separately, the Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Agency'€™s West Jakarta unit chief Slamet Widodo said that his unit would help promote Perniagaan Market to help avoid a '€œBlok G
situation'€.

He added that the relocation was inevitable as many motorists and pedestrians complained about the street vendors.

'€œThese vendors are selling in a prohibited place. Therefore, relocation is inevitable,'€ Slamet said.

He added that the vendors would be assigned kiosks at Perniagaan Market rent free for the first six months. If they decided to stay after six months, he said, they would have to pay monthly rental.

However, he said, his unit was currently focusing on organizing street vendors in Kota Tua. '€œKota Tua street vendors are currently our priority. We will relocate Asemka street vendors after we finish at Kota Tua,'€ Slamet said.

Meanwhile, there are rumors that merchants inside Asemka Market will also be relocated to Perniagaan Market, as the current building was deemed too old.

Unlike the street vendors, the merchants welcomed the idea.

Toy merchant, 57-year-old Patrisia, agreed to be relocated as long as the city administration could guarantee there would me as many visitors as in Asemka Market.

'€œThe building is too old and it is worrisome for us merchants. I am afraid that it will collapse or catch fire one day,'€ she said.