adminStramed, Trade unions in the public transportation sector have called for public investment in the current and future operations of public transportation in Jakarta. The statement was issued in the joint campaign “The future is public transport” with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and C40 for historic global investment in public transportation infrastructure and services as part of the recovery from Covid-19
To improve the quality of public transportation in Jakarta, the General Chairperson of the Railway Workers Union (SPKA) Edi Suryanto demanded that the government improve and increase the budget allocation for providing public transport services.
“Importantly, public transportation should not be seeking to make a profit, but provide a good and affordable service to the people. So, it is only natural for the government to allocate adequate budget for a vital public good ” stated Edi.
Separately, the Chairperson of Trans Jakarta Workers Union (SPTJ) Jan Oratmangun conveyed that during this pandemic, passenger access was impacted.. Mobility was difficult, due to operational shortages on public transportation routes, especially the Trans Jakarta route. This then hindered the mobility of some employees living in the suburbs to go downtown using public transport.
Another impact of the pandemic has been a reduction in the workforce and also cuts to allowances. So, it is quite disturbing our union colleague’s mobility that structurally are also as employee, he said.
Jan hoped that there will be a revitalization of public transportation as a more eco-friendly mode “as I mentioned before, the mobility of people in Jakarta is so high, so if the eco-friendly transportation is being improved and expanded, the impact will be good for the people. The problem with noise, decreasing air pollution, this then will impact the health of the people in the capital city” stated Jan.
In line with Jan, the General Chairperson of the Aerospace, Digital, and Transportation Trade Union (SPDT), Iswan Abdullah, where some of the members are from PT Transportasi Jakarta (public transport owned by the Jakarta Provincial Administration) is also supporting the idea of eco-friendly public transportation for workers and passengers.
“Of course, by providing comfort, efficiency, punctuality, in conducting the activities. Next is, public transport provided by the state should be cheap, and even for free in the future. As the government can use the budget allocated by the state through tax, National Income and Expenditure Budget (APBN) and Local Income and Expenditure Budget (APBD)” stated Iswan.
Besides providing eco-friendly transportation, Iswan also hopes that the transportation provider/ employers are also friendly to the rights of the workers who work in the companies owned by the government.
Friendly to the workers can be shown in three ways. Firstly, it should provide decent wage and income security for all workers in the sector. This should be pushed by the government who should lead good practices.
Secondly, the public transport company should provide social security protection to the workers in the company. Because we still experience subsidiary companies, or outsourced companies of the local government owned/provided public transportation where workers social security have not been paid by those companies.
Thirdly, there should be job security and the workers should have certainty about the employment relationship . “The workers who work in the public transport sector should be able to dedicate their maximum and optimum job performance and this will only be achieved when the workers have decent income security, social security, and the certainty in getting secure jobs with permanent status” was strongly explained by Iswan.
* * *
The union in the public transport sector shows appreciation to the Jakarta Administration Office for receiving the Award of Sustainable Transport Award (STA) 2021 thanks to the integration of inter- modal public transport that will continue to be developed
In the written statement in receiving the award awarded by The Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) based in New York City, United States of America, Jakarta Governor, Anies Rasyid Baswedan conveyed his appreciation and pride for the achievement and to always beinnovative in the public transport integration practice.
Anies has also stated his commitment to ensuring that sustainable transportation prioritises people’s comfort. “This is a reminder that we have to keep improving the existing public transport service, so it will guarantee the comfort of the user”..
Trade unions support the effort of improving the public transport system in Jakarta. The government must listen to the insights and input from workers whose knowledge and skills can contribute to improving the quality of public transport services in Jakarta.
Glembert
