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mong the many efforts made by embattled Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama to clean up the capital, establishing the Public Facility Maintenance Agency (PPSU) in 2015 is said to be one of his most
successful.

PPSU workers, often called “the orange troops” due to the color of their uniforms, go the distance to make Jakarta beautiful and free from trash. They clean up the streets and even dive into sewers on a daily basis, working for 10 hours each day.

The PPSU program also provides better livelihoods for thousands of low-educated and unskilled residents as they receive a decent wage, Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) insurance, among other benefits.

However, as Ahok was suspended as governor by the Home Ministry after being sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for blaspheming against Islam by the North Jakarta State Court on Tuesday, the future of the PPSU workers is now in limbo.

For 57-year-old Slamet Ismail, becoming a PPSU worker under the Kebayoran Lama Selatan subdistrict office in South Jakarta changed his life. He said he could now enjoy a decent lifestyle and get access to health service through the incentives provided by the Jakarta administration.

“Prior to becoming a PPSU worker, I was just a low-level contract employee at a subdistrict office with insignificant pay,” Slamet told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday while he was cutting down tree branches that were blocking street lamps.

He said that he was wary about the upcoming transition as an aging man like him “would unlikely be able to find another job elsewhere.”

“I have been working here since the PPSU was first established in 2015 and if Ahok leaves I doubt I will have the chance to keep my job,” said Slamet.

Meanwhile, Sugiarto, 52, who also works under the same subdistrict as Slamet, said he felt more at ease even though his current status as a contract PPSU worker was threatened.

“People like us will always find some other jobs to do,” said Sugiarto, who had previously worked as a construction worker. “Nevertheless, if I lose this job, I will be saddened because this is my only chance to serve the government.”

Another PPSU worker from Gelora subdistrict, West Jakarta, who only wanted to be referred to as RR, lamented the uncertainty of his future.

“A PPSU worker’s monthly salary of Rp 3.35 million (US$251) is multiple times more than what I used to get as an unofficial city cleaner,” said RR, adding that before joining PPSU, he could only get a maximum incentive of Rp 600,000 a month.

“I was the most fortunate as a cleaning officer during Ahok’s administration thanks to the PPSU. Without it, I’m as good as being unemployed,” he said.

In the event that the PPSU is terminated by the next government, Ahok has previously said that he would equip approximately 10,000 PPSU workers with certificates based on certain skills. The certificates, he said, would be able to help the workers find new jobs.

On May 8, with the help of two paint companies, a certification program for wall-painting training kicked off with 240 participants in its first phase. According to Jakarta Manpower and Transmigration Agency head Priyono, a second phase will be conducted soon with 60 participants.

However, when asked about the certification, several workers who talked to the Post said they had never heard about such a program. (dea)