Damri Public Transport Company

Damri services return to normal as drivers end strike

Operations of state-owned public transportation company PT Damri

Damri returned to normal on Saturday afternoon

after the company’s drivers ended their strike.

the operation of bus routes to and from Airport resumed,

with drivers getting back behind the wheel after an agreement was made.

“[An agreement] was made after Damri management, with the help of the East Jakarta Police,

talked to the workers, ending the strike,”

She said in a press statement on Saturday.

In the mediation process, Damri and the protestors agreed that

the company would add off-board kenek (helpers) and that,

for certain busy routes, there would be on-board helpers as well.

The drivers went on strike in a show of solidarity for helpers

who were not employed by the company.

The strike, involving Damri drivers and kenek, began Friday evening and ended Saturday afternoon,

The strike has affeced bus services in Greater Jakarta.

Following the start of the strike, they held a meeting in which

they agreed that services to the airport must not be disrupted.

the drivers had demanded that

the company recruit helpers to assist in the company’s daily operations.

Damri said kenek were not tied to the company,

did not work specific hours

and were informal workers hired by the drivers.

Hundreds of helpers lost their jobs last month

as part of a restructuring of human resources

as the company moved to develop an e-ticketing payment system.

The payment system follows the example of bus companies in other countries,

where drivers manage their vehicles without any additional manpower.

With the system, passengers must take care of their own luggage and tickets

without the services of helpers.

the company would proceed with the electronic payment system

as it was in line with AP II’s digitalization of services. 

“We will not back down with our plan to introduce the payment system’s electronic ticketing,”.

the strike affected most routes, with only three out of Damri’s 25 Greater Jakarta routes operating.

Damri management issued an apology for any inconveniences experienced

by those wanted to travel to and from the airport.

During the strike, airport management and bus companies deployed buses to ensure travelers had options.

The company’s restructuring of human resources made it so that on-board helpers were not needed.

helpers would not be entirely removed from Damri’s services,

as the company planned to allow them to assist passengers at departure and arrival points.

Helpers were recruited by the drivers

and thus were not official Damri employees.

The company previously hired at least 90 helpers after they had passed tests.

However, the helpers decided to resign,

allegedly after being pressured by their colleagues

who did not pass the test and planned the strike.