Conventional Trading Continues Despite Covid-19 Restrictions

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Customers browse bags containing goldfish on Wednesday (3/6/2020) on Jl. Matraman Raya, where an ornamental fish trader had set up shop in Bali Mester, Jatinegara, East Jakarta.

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a profound impact and dealt a blow to small-scale traders and businesses. Rather than deliberately flouting the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), they have been forced to keep selling under the economic hardships so they can continue to earn a living.

By 4:30 p.m., Stevi, a 50-year-old ornamental fish trader on Jl. Matraman

Raya in Bali Mester, Jatinegara, East Jakarta, had pocketed only about Rp 45,000. This small amount has been her earnings over the nearly three months since Covid-19 emerged in Jakarta and the PSBB was implemented. As a matter of fact, she earned from Rp 200,000 to Rp 400,000 every day before the health emergency.

“Right now, [my] daily income is around Rp 50,000, even Rp 30,000. We’re not defying the rule, but if we stop trading, we will have no daily income. Even the present condition has hit us hard and put us in financial difficulty. What can we do other than continue trading?” Stevi said on Wednesday (3/5/2020).

We’re like criminals and are accused of violating the rule.

Stevi understood that the PSBB required all vendors to temporarily stop trading to avoid crowds and the potential for spreading Covid-19. Furthermore, she was also aware that during the PSBB period, they faced the risk of being targeted by municipal police raids. However, as long as they received no financial assistance, they were forced to keep trading.

“We’re like criminals and are accused of violating the rule. We know the consequence of violating [the PSBB]. But at the very least, there should be some measure to support our economy during the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. From the start, it appears we have been left on our own to deal with these hard times. Our real purpose for continuing our trade is so we can make a living and meet [our] daily needs,” added Stevi.

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KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Stevi, 50, an ornamental fish trader, holds up a bag of fish for sale on Wednesday (3/6/2020) on Jl. Matraman Raya in Bali Mester, Jatinegara, East Jakarta, where he had set up shop. Stevi says that he si not deliberately violating the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Greater Jakarta, but he has no choice but to continue his trade to make ends meet.

Stevi’s views are shared by Joni, 40, another ornamental fish trader. He had made various attempts under the difficult economic situation, including trying his hand at online trading, simply to comply with the government’s restrictions. But it wasn’t easy for Joni to transfer his business online, since he had to deliver the orders to his customers himself.

“I tried opening an online [store]. But it turned out to be difficult to manage alone. Based on my experience, there should ideally be at least two people [to manage an online store], the second to work as a courier. There are ride-hailing motorcycle delivery services, but it increases the cost. Many customers objected to the extra delivery cost. So I just maintain direct sales now,” said Joni.

Joni hoped that during the government would issue a policy to support small-scale traders so they could carry on with their business the Covid-19 pandemic. But the policy should also comply with the health protocols.

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“We have no way but to violate the regulations to keep our business going. We’re rule-abiding people. Please make rules, including health protocols, so the policy is mutually beneficial. It can help us continue to trade in peace,” added Joni.

The PSBB implemented in Jakarta has also imposed temporary closures on a number of trade and shopping centers, including the Cililitan Wholesale Center (PGC). The policy was imposed prevent large crowds and to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission.

Yet, the closure of the PGC has affected businesspeople. For over two months, they have been unable to sell or serve their customers. The situation has forced a financial predicament on Reno, 29, and Slamet, 30. As a result, the pair felt they had no other choice but to open their mobile phone repair service in the yard of the PGC, which they have been operating for more than a month to make ends meet.

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KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Reno, 29 (left), and Slamet, 30, squat behind a handmade sign touting their mobile phone repair services in the courtyard of the temporarily closed Cililitan Wholesale Center in East Jakarta. The pair has been forced to continue working in order to make a living.

Reno was also worried about how he could continue to support his family, who lives in Semarang, Central Java. For the last three months, he has only been able to send Rp 500,000 to Rp 1 million per month to his family in his hometown. Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, he was sending them Rp 3.5 million to Rp 4 million every month. During times when many customers sought his services, he could afford to remit Rp 5 million a month.

“I am just thinking about my family in my hometown. My income has dropped considerably. I also need to meet my daily necessities. Since the PGC closed due to the PSBB, I have earned only Rp 100,000 yper da, at most Rp 250,000 when I’ve been lucky,” said Reno.

Despite his financial difficulties, Reno refused to be driven into despair or to give up. The Covid-19 outbreak had indeed shaken the economy across all sectors, but Reno couldn’t just wait for government assistance or for it to sit up and pay attention. He realized that he had to work hard to meet his daily needs.

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“It’s important that we continue to endeavor and pray. Waiting for the government certainly is no quick solution. We should take action ourselves. If we just wait for aid, we will make no money. It’s quite tiring to think about what the government could do. We should continue to make an effort and never give up,” said Reno.

The chairman of the Indonesian Street Vendors Association (APKLI), Hoiza Siregar, said that the government should provide a broader online marketplace that included small-scale traders and street vendors. Online marketplaces are seen as one way of implementing the “new normal” phase the government is planning that does not ignore the health protocols.

“What is feared during the new normal is that the government will plan to [restrict] large crowds [of shoppers] to markets and certain road junctions as designated locations for transactions. Even during the PSBB period, these areas remained crowded and the health protocols were loosely practiced,” Hoiza said on Monday (1/6/2020).

KOMPAS/ADITYA DIVERANTA

Clothing traders and their merchandise line the sidewalks of Jl. Raya Senen on Wednesday (20/11/2019) in Central Jakarta. Many traders and street vendors have had no choice but to continue working during the Covid-19 epidemic to make ends meet.

Although he agreed with the government’s move to revive the economy of the people, especially small-scale traders and street vendors who had been severely affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, Hoiza cautioned against the resumption of economic activities at markets, which could trigger a second wave of new Covid-19 infections.

The government needed to prepare an appropriate strategy or police for a certain number of markets so that overcrowding could be avoided during the Covid-19 pandemic and the transition period to the new normal phase.

At markets that had the potential for overcrowding, Hoiza said, the government should assign public order officers to manage traders and customers. In any case, the number of traders and customers should continue to be restricted and the health protocols should be followed. Even so, he doubted that the government and public order officers could maintain tight control of crowded spots.

For traders, the government should provide training in online sales.

“Therefore, while the condition still poses the risk of Covid-19 transmission, it will be more effective to introduce or empower online marketplaces that involve all stakeholders. This will be a great opportunity for the government to reinvigorate the economy of the people and protect traders and residents from Covid-19 infection,” he stressed.

According to Hoiza, the government could absorb new workers, including people who had lost their jobs, in developing mobile payment and transaction applications for these online marketplaces.

“The government can recruit information technology employees to design online payment applications. This wouldn’t be hard for the government to do. The economy of the people can therefore be rebuilt by employing affected [workers]. In addition, the government can empower residents of every subdistrict to deliver the [goods]. For traders, the government should provide training in online sales,” he added.