Lenny Tristia Tambun – TransJakarta bus drivers went on strike Monday morning over unpaid Idul Fitri holiday allowances and what they call an unfair disparity among bus drivers on different routes.
The strike left thousands of commuters stranded for hours along the Blok M to Kota and Cililitan to Tanjung Priok corridors. Service was restored after TransJakarta operator Jakarta Express Trans (JET) diverted 30 buses to pick up the passengers, M. Akbar, head of TransJakarta General Affairs, said.
The company held a meeting with strike representatives and was able to reach an agreement over the disbursement of holiday pay, Akbar said. Service should return to normal Monday afternoon, he added.
"They demanded JET [pay] the holiday allowance as Lebaran is getting near," Akbar said. "There has been a meeting between the operator and drivers and an agreement has been reached, but we don't know the [details] of the agreement. "But for sure, after the meeting, the drivers will return to work and drive the TransJakarta buses again."
The company failed to inform drivers when the holiday allowances (THR) would be paid out, explained Maria, a driver who was on strike Monday morning.
"We were on strike [because] it has not been clear on when [the allowance] would be disbursed," Maria said. "Our children are waiting at home and they want to go to the mall to buy new clothes for Idul Fitri."
The holiday allowance, a standard practice in Indonesia, is equal to one month's salary. The funds are usually disbursed seven days before Idul Fitri.
Abdul Chakim, another driver, said he was on strike to demand equal pay for all bus drivers. According to Abdul, drivers along his route earn as much as Rp 2.8 million ($296) a month, while drivers on other routes take home as much as Rp 5.3 million. "We want our salary increased to the same amount as drivers from other corridors," Abdul said.
The head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency issued an apology to TransJakarta passengers, saying that JET should have paid the holiday allowance on Sunday.
"We apologize for the inconvenience to Jakarta [commuters]," Udar said. "This happened because of internal problem between JET and drivers. I'm really concern that the THR had not been distributed to the drivers by JET. JET should be more professional."
The TransJakarta operator will be sanctioned over the strike, Abdul said. JET said that the company said it planned to disburse the holiday funds three days before Idul Fitri.
"We never forget to pay [the allowance], indeed we also give Idul Fitri gifts for the employees," JET operational director Payaman Manik said after meeting with the drivers. "This year is a bit late, but we ask all the employee not to worry. We will pay the THR, if not later on today, then on tomorrow, or Wednesday."