Searing heat, traffic jams, and pollution. Those are the conditions that are often faced by road users in Jakarta. Various efforts have been consistently deployed by the government to minimize this condition, one of which is by developing safe and comfortable public transportation services for the community. With the proliferation and integration of public transportation, people in some areas no longer have to rely on private vehicles for commuting. With those kinds of efforts, we could hope that congestion can be resolved, pollution is reduced, and the air temperature might not be as high as before.

Behind the current positive momentum of Jakarta's public transportation development, there is a human story that is rarely highlighted, the drivers. They are the ones who carry passengers from one place to their respective destinations,making sure of their safety and comfort during the trip. Their struggle is not easy and their voices need to be heard, especially female drivers’, whose current existence is not as much as male’s ones.

The Jakarta Smart City team had the opportunity to chat with Mrs. Tiaman Simbolon, a 57-year-old driver of the JakLingko fleet. She talked about her experiences driving within the JakLingko program and how her job changed her life.

Mrs. Tiaman's Career as a Driver

"I just finished my job for today, miss," said Mrs. Tiaman, starting our conversation that afternoon. Her busy work schedule from 5 am to 1.30 pm, caused us to only talk via WhatsApp voice notes. Even so, through that short conversation, she was able to open up and tell many things about her work. “Before working as a driver for JakLingko, I was a school bus driver. I drove for school children for a long time, starting from 1994 to 2012. After that, I focused on being a housewife, but sometimes I took freelance jobs as a driver,” she added. However, in 2012, Bu Tiaman returned to work as a full-time driver. At that time, the then Governor of DKI Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, initiated the integration program. Mrs. Tiaman was one of the busway feeder drivers on the route to Harapan Indah.

In the beginning of JakLingko's establishment, the system and its operation was not as proper as it is now. Mrs. Tiaman revealed that there are many challenges she faced as a driver. “In the past, JakLingko was not as organized as it is now. The driver who comes first to the base can take the early number, then that’s how the fleet can be released to operate. I often leave the house at 1 a.m, so I can arrive at 2 a.m at the base, pull up first, and that’s how I can reach the ritase," she said. “This was done because at the beginning of implementation, the amount of wages earned by JakLingko pilots was determined by ritase.

However, as the JakLingko program progressed, PT. JakLingko has made a new policy that prioritizes the safety, health, and welfare of drivers. The fleet operating schedule uses a rolling system, divided into three schedules, from 5.00 am to 13.30 pm, then 13.30 pm to 10.00 pm, followed by the Night Transport (AMARI) which operates from 22.01 pm to 00.00 a.m. Each driver is only allowed to work a maximum of 8 hours. When asked about this regulation, Mrs. Tiaman said, “I am very grateful, JakLingko cares about the welfare and safety of our drivers. I don't have to leave at 1 p.m. again, just to catch up on targets."

JakLingko: More Organized, Comfortable, and Safe City Transportation

Since its inception, JakLingko has not only made things easier for drivers, but also for passengers. If in the past, residents of Jakarta were familiar with angkot or city transportation which was synonymous with reckless fleets, untidy drivers, or conductor screaming to look for more passengers, then the same image will not be found on JakLingko. PT. JakLingko has its own Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) related to fleet operations, including regulating provisions for drivers and passengers. JakLingko drivers wear uniforms, are friendly, and they are required to be disciplined in driving, such as not being allowed to overtake other fleets as well as not being allowed to exceed a certain speed when driving a fleet. Passengers also have a series of rules that must be obeyed if they want to get on JakLingko, such as not being allowed to carry more than the specified capacity, not being allowed to bring animals and food that smells bad.

What if the driver breaks the rules? "We will not only be fined, but also suspended for at least 3 days," explained Mrs. Tiaman. Therefore, being a driver requires a high level of discipline and patience. "We are also expected to be able to socialize the rules that need to be obeyed to passengers," she continued.

JakLingko Changes Mrs. Tiaman's Life

Like any other driver, the main reason for Mrs. Tiaman joining JakLingko was to help her family financially. Because, unlike some of Mrs. Tiaman's previous jobs, JakLingko provides guaranteed monthly salaries for all its employees, including the drivers. “Before joining JakLingko, my family and I might only eat meat once a month. But with me working and supplementing our income, we can eat meat once or twice a week.” This kind of change might not be a significant thing for some people, but for Mrs. Tiaman who appreciates even the slightest sustenance, this is obviously very meaningful. “JakLingko truly brings change to the driver's life, as long as we are grateful. If we are not grateful, no matter how big the favors we get, we will never be satisfied," she conveyed.

As it turned out, not only the driver's family economy was helped by JakLingko, but also the education of the driver's children. With a slightly higher tone, a sign of enthusiasm, she explained, “The driver’s children who live in Jakarta, can join the public school program. My children are no longer of school age, but I am still happy for the other drivers.” In other words, JakLingko can not only help the driver's economy, but also provide a better future for their families, by providing the access to the best education for the driver's children.

Career Women: Dividing The Time to Work and Take Care of the Family

What is interesting when hearing the story of female workers is how they divide their time to carry out domestic and non-domestic roles. The culture and mindset that develops in most societies often places a double burden on working women, making them have to do domestic and non-domestic tasks alone. However, Mrs. Tianan is lucky enough not to experience this. She is grateful that her husband and two children can agree upon their deal to work together in taking care of the house. “My husband works in a private company. Our two children are no longer at school. Actually, I don't have much to prepare for the kids. But, as a wife and mother, you definitely want to take care of your family even if you work.” Apart from the division of tasks arranged with her husband and children, Mrs. Tiaman still finds time to cook and do other housework after work. “Usually I cook after work, I purposely cook more for tomorrow's meal. Then I put the food in the fridge. The next morning, before leaving for work, I heated them up so my husband and children could eat. Since the moment I decided to become a driver and help the family financially, I still want to take care of the house and my family, even though they do the housework to lighten my burden," she said.

When asked how she felt about leaving her family early in the morning to work, Mrs. Tiaman sobbed softly. "Sorry, Miss, I'm a little emotional," she said. “Honestly, it was a bit hard for me to leave the kids. Working to help my husband financially is my own decision. However, I have done my best as a wife and mother of the children.” She was silent for a moment, as if recalling an event, then continued again. “Sometimes before leaving for work, I kiss my children and husband. In the heart, I apologize to God, sorry that I had to leave my children and husband since this morning, Lord. Now I can only be grateful, I am in good health to work and take care of the house at the same time.”

Working in A Male-Dominated Field Doesn’t Let Her Down 

Working as a JakLingko driver is not easy. Although JakLingko already had a series of strict rules, working in the field is not easy. There are a lot of challenges, especially with regard to patience-testing traffic. Fortunately, Mrs. Tiaman has many supportive fellow drivers. “Most of the JakLingko drivers are male. At the beginning of the training, I was even the only female driver,” said Bu Tiaman. "I've never received bad treatment from them. In fact, all of them are kind and supportive. They always encourage me to perform even though I am a woman working in a field dominated by men, that's how they respect me,” she added. Socializing with fellow drivers has also changed Mrs. Tiaman for the better. "I am more able to control myself and my emotions," she said.

Wants to Continue Being a Driver

JakLingko has significantly changed Mrs. Tianan's life. She has gained a lot of experience from this job. What are her dreams and hopes for the future? "I just hope that I can continue to be a driver until the age of 70," she replied. Mrs. Tiaman also expressed her hope for PT. JakLingko in the future. "Hopefully in the future, PT. JakLingko can drive the company even better and further improve the welfare of us drivers. Considering that transportation is the heart of Jakarta's economy,” she said proudly, closing our conversation that afternoon.
 

That was a piece of Mrs. Tiaman’s dedication and passion for her job as a JakLingko driver. The story of hers reminds us that the JakLingko initiative does not only help public transportation users, but also those who drive fleets for a living. The figure of Mrs. Tiaman in the middle of a male-dominated driver's job also reminds us that women can play an important role, both in family, work, community, even at the national level. Anything can be achieved, as long as you try and not limit your own capabilities. Kudos to Mrs. Tiaman and all the heroes of the capital city!