Jakarta's Street Tailors Face Economic Hardship

Dwindling Earnings Amidst Economic Challenges

Street tailors operating along Jakarta's streets are experiencing a significant decline in their daily earnings. What was once a viable livelihood has become a struggle due to dwindling customer orders and rising economic pressures. The tailors, who have been plying their trade for years, now find themselves working long hours only to return home empty-handed on many days.

Economic Reality of Street Tailors

The economic reality for these tailors is grim. Daily earnings have plummeted from Rp200,000-300,000 before the pandemic to as low as Rp50,000 on slow days. Even on busy days, earnings rarely exceed Rp200,000. This gross income barely covers their daily operational expenses, including food and materials like thread and machine oil.

Challenges in Maintaining Livelihood

The tailors face numerous challenges in maintaining their livelihood. The gross earnings are often insufficient to save or invest in their business. On particularly slow days, some tailors reported going without food so they could save enough money for essential expenses like rent. The situation is further complicated by the fact that these tailors are not salaried employees but small business owners, making their financial situation even more precarious.

Impact on Daily Life

The decline in earnings has a direct impact on the tailors' daily lives. Many struggle to send money back to their families in rural areas, a task that has become increasingly difficult with the reduction in income. The financial strain is evident in their daily struggles to make ends meet, highlighting the broader economic challenges faced by informal sector workers in urban Indonesia.