Jejak Vol 11 (1) (2018): 173-188 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15294/jejak.v11i1.

12510

JEJAK
Jurnal Ekonomi dan Kebijakan
http://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/jejak
Street Vendors (PKL) as the Survival Strategy of Poor Community
Eko Handoyo1, Avi Budi Setiawan2

12
Universitas Negeri Semarang

Permalink/DOI: https://doi.org/10.15294/jejak.v11i1.12510

Received: October 2017; Accepted: January 2018; Published: March 2018

Abstract
Street vendors are some of informal sector business actors who are directly related to city government policy. Illegal street
vendors as one type of street vendors often get ill-treatment from the city government. It is because in running the business, street
vendors occupy public space, such as sidewalks and shoulders, so they are disciplined. Through this phenomena, this study aimed
to analyze (1) survival strategy done by street vendors and (2) reasons by street vendors in using public space as a place to trade.
Those objectives were further described by employing qualitative descriptive method with data collection technique through
interviews and observations. Once the data have been collected, they were analyzed qualitatively interactively. From the research
results, it can be concluded. First, being a street vendor for low-level society is the only option and is the most viable way to sustain
their lives. Some street vendors do survival strategy in order to meet the needs of everyday life. Second, street vendors use public
spaces such as roadsides and sidewalks because (1) there are limitations which make them impossible to occupy locations with
obligations to pay, (2) roads and sidewalks are strategic places to peddle merchandise; and (3) lack of attention from government
to the needs and welfare of street vendors.

Key words : Poor, Street Vendors, Survival Strategy

How to Cite: Handoyo, E., & Setiawan, A. (2018). Street Vendors (PKL) as the Survival Strategy of Poor
Community. JEJAK: Jurnal Ekonomi dan Kebijakan, 11(1), 173-188. doi: https://doi.org/10.15294/jejak.v11i1.12510

 Corresponding author : p-ISSN 1979-715X

Address: Economics Faculty, Universitas Negeri Semarang,
Sekaran-Gunungpati, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia e-ISSN 2460-5123
E-mail: avibs@mail.unnes.ac.id
174 Eko Handoyo & Avi Budi Setiawan., Street Vendors (PKL)

INTRODUCTION Any physical developments required by the

formal sector are not infrequently shifting and
Urbanization brings major problems in
displacing the lives of small communities. The
Asian countries such as China, India and
displaced populations or migrants who do not
Indonesia. Further, in common big cities in
have a place to work in the formal sector are
Asia, it is estimated that every day there are
forced to work in the informal sector in order to
120,000 residents increase the population
make them be able to live and meet the needs of
density (Roberts and Kanaley 2006). In
their families. Among those who occupy the
addition to increasing city density,
informal sector are street vendors (PKL). The
urbanization also provides several benefits
growth of the informal sector in the city is a sign
such as providing opportunities for millions of
of failure as well as the answer to the failure of
people and reducing poverty (Roberts and
the process of penetration of the growth strategy
Kanaley 2006). Other things that change as
(Maharika 2009). The informal sector in this case
the impact of urbanization are lifestyles,
acts as an absorber of unskilled human resources
occupations, social structures, and
who have not been absorbed in the urban formal
relationships within the household,
sector. Therefore, it does not require high
organization, and government (Roberts and
technology since the informal sector is a vehicle
Kanaley 2006).
for apprenticeship and education for rural
Urbanization in big cities is a heaven for
migrants. In line with this, apparently, informal
investors to invest their shares in economic
sector phenomenon occurs in the third world
activities. They can participate by giving
countries. For example, in cities in India, poor
investment in the construction of housing or
urban generally work in the informal sector.
real estate, become the main shareholders of
(Bhomik in Amin 2005).
the mall business, become promoters of the
Community groups working in the
construction of entertainment venues, or
informal sector, especially as street vendors are
develop a hospitality business. The
generally poorly educated, have less skills, and
investment in formal sector activities is
use forbidden public places in selling their
mostly accepted and facilitated by the district
merchandise. The forbidden public areas include
or city head.
sidewalks, shoulders, roadside near rivers,
The reason stated by the head of the
government offices, and more. Purnomo (2017)
region is the district or city he regulates needs
in his research found that street vendors in
fresh funds to spur any development in the
Purwokerto use public space such as sidewalks
area. If the government only relies on
and places around the market. The street
government funds, in the form of general
vendors in Semarang also occupy crowded public
allocation funds (DAU) or special allocation
spaces such as office areas, hospitals, traditional
funds (DAK), the funds will not be sufficient
markets, supermarkets and entertainment
to finance development and provide
venues. Moreover, unregistered street vendors
maximum services to the community. In
(peddlers), in selling their merchandise, occupy
addition to being a magnet for the investors,
sidewalks, shoulders and roadside near the river,
urbanization also causes the city to grow as
and in front of government offices. By trading in
well as attracts rural migrants to find work
these places, street vendors can survive because
(Amin 2005).
JEJAK Journal of Economics and Policy Vol 11 (1) (2018) : 173-188 175

there are many citizen pass such places, see the city. Meanwhile, those who are less educated,
them selling their merchandise, and then unskilled, lacking in capital, and limited access
come to buy or use their services. However, to economic resources, cause themselves some
their activity often disrupts pedestrians, people like them fall in poverty. As a result, they
drivers or riders. That is why the municipal can only access self-employment in the informal
government does the arrangement and order sector that does not require specific education
in the hope that the traffic route is orderly and and skills (Sari 2016). The results of these
the area becomes cleaner, beautiful and safe. informal sector economic activities can only be
The mayor of Bogota, Colombia, for example, used to meet the needs of daily living or to
is authorized to regulate public space in survive. This is in line with the dependency
accordance with his authority, including theory approach that the informal sector's
regulating street vendors occupying the economic goal is solely for survival, not to
public sphere. If he does not run the public maximize profits (Olabisi Sherifat 2011).
space policy properly, he can be fired Cities apparently face a dilemma. On the
(Donovan 2002). The mayor who wishes that one hand, cities should be open to job seekers,
the city headed into a world-class city expects especially those without the skills required by
the absence of poor urban dwellers or the the formal sector; on the other hand, the cities
absence of other urban social problems must fix themselves with adequate facilities in
(Jhabvala 2010). order to become a comfortable place for the
The big question that arises is whether citizens of the city and be a magnet for investors
being a street vendor is a compulsion or a life when viewed from the economic side. These
choice in the midst of an increasingly tougher dilemmas cause cities to manage the needs of the
work competence. From the big question, this urban population, especially the needs of poor
study will answer two problems, that are what communities who lack the skills to work in the
strategies used by street vendors to survive formal sector. In his study of street hawkers, Sj-
and why street vendors desperate use public Sumarto (2009) argues that the city has failed in
space to peddle merchandise or run their managing street vendors. This is due to the
business. ambivalent attitude of the city government. On
City is an area that has developed in the one hand, the existence of street vendors is
such a way that it becomes a destination for considered a savior, because the city is more alive
anyone who wants to change fate. Not a with the presence of street vendors who provide
village, but a city raided by job seekers. The jobs and goods and services needed by lower
reason is that cities provide the resources and middle class society. On the other hand, street
facilities needed by job seekers. vendors are regarded as the culprit of disorder,
Although the city provides various chaos, and city defilement.
facilities that allow the community to The study of Alisjahbana (2005) on the
improve their standard of living, those who informal sector also shows an impression that is
have the education, skills, capabilities and not much different from Sj-Sumarto's view that
enough capital will be able to improve their cities in Indonesia face problems in the
lives, and some even master the economy of preparation of spatial and regional planning
176 Eko Handoyo & Avi Budi Setiawan., Street Vendors (PKL)

plans related to the emergence of the informal individual or group within the structure of social,
sector that is difficult to control. However, it credible belief systems and social networks,
is recognized that the informal sector has a including the expertise in the mobility of existing
role like foam that is absorbing the excess or resources, skill level, asset ownership,
bouncing of labor from the formal sector. The occupation type, gender status and personal
poor, who lack skills or skill, ultimately motivation.
choose to work in the informal sector that According Gunawan and Sugianto (2000)
does not require a certain education and survival strategies for the poor can be interpreted
expertise (Manning and Roesad 2006; Ari as the ability to deal with problems, both in the
2008). efforts that they do to survive from economic and
One of the informal sectors that exists non-economic crunches.
in the urban economy is the more popular Suharto (2003) argues that survival
informal trading sector called as street strategies are the ability of a person to apply a set
vendors. The activities of these street vendors of ways to overcome the problems that
are mostly accessed by the poor and the complement his life. Also, he provides ways to
traded goods are also in great demand by the tackle economic pressures for the poor,
lower middle class society, because the price including: (1) active strategies, that are strategies
is cheap and not taxed (Destombes 2010). that optimize all potentials of the family, (2)
Factors that encourage the poor to work passive strategies which are realized by reducing
as street vendors are (1) limited urban family expenditure, and (3) networking
economic resources accessible to the poor, strategies, building relationship formally or
such as property, capital, and information; (2) informally in an institutional environment.
the difficulty of entering the formal sector White as quoted Ibrahim and Pure
that requires certain conditions that the poor Baheram (2009) mentions three types of survival
cannot meet; (3) the opportunity to enter the strategies, namely survival strategy as a strategy
informal sector, particularly as street vendors to meet the needs of life to a minimum level in
is widely open due to the unlimited demand order to survive, consolidation strategy is a
and supply of labor (Handoko 2011). strategy to meet the needs of life, which is
Everyone has a way to survive whatever reflected from the fulfillment of basic needs and
economic social status he has, especially those social, accumulation strategy, namely the
who are in a marginal and poor position. strategy of fulfilling the necessities of life to
Conceptually, the definition of a survival achieve basic needs, social, and capital
strategy is a series of action chosen in fertilization.
standard by economically poor individual and This study uses the concept of survival
households (Snel and Staring in 2005). strategy proposed by White and Suharto,
Through this strategy, a person makes an because this strategy is supposed to be the choice
effort to supplement income through the use of poor families to survive. The literature on how
of other sources or reduce spending by urban poor communities are able to survive
reducing the quantity and quality of goods or through informal sector economic activity is
services. The way individual arranges the quite a lot. The following is a literature that
strategies is influenced by the position of the demonstrates the importance of research on the
JEJAK Journal of Economics and Policy Vol 11 (1) (2018) : 173-188 177

survival strategies of economic actors of the (Neighborhood) 25 RW (Hamlet) V Kutakulon,

informal sector and of the poor. Bondowoso Subdistrict, Bondowoso District,
Karlita (2011) in her research on the concludes that the herbal traders have three
Women Survival Strategy in the Coastal strategies, namely (1) active strategy by making
Region concludes that the strategies herbal medicine in the morning, maintaining the
implemented by the women in the hamlet of quality of herbal medicine, looking for remote
Muara are an economic strategy and social selling locations, taking herbal orders, moving
strategy. The economic survival strategy is places while selling, reducing the cost of
divided into six categories: saving and loan, production by taking or requesting herbal
following holiday packages, investing, doing medicine production, buying materials in large
various jobs, sharing food, and sharing quantities, (2) passive strategy of traditional
electricity; while in social survival strategies, herbalist traders is done by applying a frugal
women follow arisan (women lottery group) lifestyle, buying vegetables directly to farmers in
and borrow something from neighbors. the village, rarely buy clothes, buy used clothes,
Chasanah (2013) in the research on the reside in overseas areas by simple home care,
Survival Strategy Done by Food Business in rent a room, when sick just buy a pot in the
Ngentak Sapen Village, RW (Hamlet) 01 corner, drink herbs and massage; and (3) the
Caturtunggal Depok Sleman DIY, concludes traditional network strategy of traditional
that the strategies of survival of food business traders is done by borrowing money to neighbors
are done by (1) maintaining trust with raw or fellow traditional traders, sell valuables to
material suppliers, customers and with other neighbors or traditional herbal traders, and
work relations; (2) maintaining social borrow something on stalls.
networks with buyers and fellow traders; and Ritami (2016) in the research on Social
(3) conducting food business efficiency by Capital Role in Strengthening the Strategy to
maintaining pricing strategy, performing cost Survive Stone Miners (Sepancang Lawang Kulon
and time efficiency, performing financial Village, East Baturaja Subdistrict, South
management and setting aside the result of Sumatera), concludes that in order to survive,
effort. there are two strategies employed by scavengers,
Khaerunnisa (2015) in her research on namely seeking loans and looking for other jobs.
Strategies of Increasing Socio Economic Life Akbar (2016) in his research on the
of Roasted Fish Traders in Suradadi Village, Scavenger Survival Strategies in Sidomulyo
Suradadi Subdistrict, Tegal Regency Village, Samarinda Ilir Subdistrict concludes that
concludes that fish trader strategies in the strategies used by scavengers to survive are
improving economic social life are realized by to earn money from morning to evening; set
(1) taking turns selling in one stall, (2) giving aside or save money earned; do not buy excessive
special price to customers, giving gifts or food and do not eat at food stalls, do alternative
bonuses to customers, and (3) saving some job by selling fried foods, work as a clothes
portion of their income. washer, and be a construction worker and ask for
Suyono (2015) in research on Strategies help from social network in form of borrowing
to Survive Traditional Herbal Traders In RT
178 Eko Handoyo & Avi Budi Setiawan., Street Vendors (PKL)

money from the owner of stalls for urgent involved in establishing social networking, by
need by pay cut every day from every item owing their neighbors or relatives and simply to
sold. exchange job information.
Jannah (2015) in research on Palm Oil Ibrahim and Baheram (2009) in a study on
Labor Survival Strategies in Pasir Sialang the Scavenger Family's Defensive Strategies in
Village, Bangkinang Kampar Subdistrict Salo Village, Kampar District, concludes that in
concludes that the survival strategies order to survive, the scavengers take a strategy of
undertaken by palm oil laborers are (1) borrowing money from neighbors and relatives,
strengthening social relations with the saving money, saving expenses, and join women
community, (2) borrowing money from lottery group.
neighbors, family , and employers, (3) From the results of the above research, it
utilizing the yields of forest gardens and appears that people from the lower middle class
products, (4) diversifying the work of the have a good economic strategy in maintaining
palm oil family. their survival, it is easily done by entering the
Manihuruk (2013) in research on informal economy sector and it does not require
Survival Strategies Done by Informal Sectors higher education and certain skills. The choice is
Actors: The Role of Social Capital of Street able to lift his life from the poverty ravine. In
Vendors Migrant around Bogor Botanical order to maintain jobs, the poor make various
Garden concludes that social capital plays a strategies such as saving money, saving money,
significant role in street vendors' survival borrowing money, and joining lottery group
strategies. The social capital is related to the activities.
sustainability of the street vendors' business. This study has similarities with previous
For more, whenever there are difficulties, the research, especially in the absence of poor
street vendors asks for help to the nearest economic conditions and the occupied
owned network. occupations pertained to the informal economy
Widodo (2011) in research on sector. What distinguishes this research from
Sustainable Livelihood Strategies for Poor previous research is the focus of public space
Households in Coastal Areas concludes that research as the arena of trading or running a
the Kwanyar Barat fishermen use two business. The empirical support of previous
strategies in sustaining their lives, namely research is significantly used as a scientific
economic strategy and social strategy. The capital in conducting research on the street
economic strategies undertaken are, among vendors survival strategies in the Banjirkanal
others, multiple living standards, Barat river bank area.
optimization of household labor and
RESEARCH METHODS
migration. Also, women are involved in efforts
to increase family income, but only to help This research belonged to a qualitative
sell the catch. In addition to economic research. In accordance with the views of
strategies, there is also a social strategy that is Moleong (1993) and Bogdan and Taylor (1992) in
done, namely the utilization of local welfare Amin (2005), this study produced descriptive
institutions and social networking. data in the form of written or oral words from the
Meanwhile, in social strategy, women are only street vendors studied and their behavior that
JEJAK Journal of Economics and Policy Vol 11 (1) (2018) : 173-188 179

were observed directly. Further, the Purposive, in the sense that informants were
qualitative descriptive research was chosen chosen based on the characteristics and limits in
with the aim of conducting in-depth study of accordance with the parameters that have been
street vendors (Bungin 2015). This type of determined in the study, namely: (1) work as
research was chosen because the writer traders along the river banks Banjir kanal Barat,
looked forward to providing understanding, namely in Sampangan, Basudewo road, and
explanation, and theory about the social Kokrosono road, (2) work as a trader for at least
behavior of street vendors, also giving 1 year, (3) have married (having wife or husband
understanding regarding the complexity of and children) or bear family, (4) use own stalls.
behavior, needs, systems, and culture that Based on these considerations, the chosen
develops among street vendors. In accordance informants were taken from 5 people working in
with Neuman's (2013) explanation, the data in Sampangan, 2 people who traded on the road
this qualitative study were taken by special Basudewo, and 7 people working on the road
observation (inductively) in the public space Kokrosono. Thus, all informants under study
occupied by street vendors, then developed were as many as 14 people. However, only 3
into a broader concept, so that data and vendors who represented the location of
theory can interact. Sampangan, Basudewo and Kokrosono were
This study took place in Semarang city, tracked.
specifically in Sampangan, Basudewo road, The data of this study were collected
and street Kokrosono where street vendors through interviews and observations. The
trade or run their businesses. Additionally, interviews conducted were unstructured or not
the data collected from the subjects of the standardized, which was a free interview in
study were shaped into the unit of analysis. which the writers did not use interview
The unit analysis of this study were street guidelines that have been prepared in a
vendors who trade in Sampangan, Basudewo, systematic and complete, but in the form of the
and Kokrosono. They were investigated from outline of research questions related to research
the perspective of the reasons of choosing to problems that want solved (Sugiyono 2009). In
become street vendors and the courage to conducting interviews, tools used by the writers
occupy public space to trade or run their to help collecting data and research information
business. were a notebook, digital tape recorder, and pen-
Since qualitative research requires camera. Furthermore, the interviews were
focus. The focus of this study was related to conducted with informants, which were the
the questions that guide study or research. In selected street vendors to reveal the motive data
this connection, the research was focused on: of poor communities to illegal street vendors and
The strategies used by street vendors to why they were desperate to trade or run business
survive, the reasons the street vendors use in the public sphere. Meanwhile, the observation
public space to trade or run a business. conducted in this study was moderate
The street vendors (PKL) as informants participatory observation (Sugiyono 2009). In
in this study were selected by purposive participatory observation of moderate model,
method (Maxwell 1996; Creswell 2007). the writers maintained balance as outsiders as
180 Eko Handoyo & Avi Budi Setiawan., Street Vendors (PKL)

well as insiders. As an insider, the writers, activities after data collection, then the
while doing the observation, were also presentation of data in the form of narration,
involved in buying and selling activities with tables, and photos, and withdrawal conclusion
merchants and even invented to share his joy and verification to confirm the correctness of the
as a trader. This was aimed at knowing the data in accordance with the research problem.
reasons why the street vendors kept staying To facilitate data analysis, the writer reflected on
on site. research data, asked analytical questions about
The collected data were tested for research problems, and to prevent data loss the
validity using triangulation (Patton 1989; writer wrote brief notes throughout the study
Miles and Huberman 1992; Brannen 1997). (Creswell 2010).
This triangulation was used not only at the
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
time of data collection, but also when
examining the results of qualitative analysis. A survival strategy is a characteristic of
The use of triangulation is useful for solving marginalized groups or communities. Those
potential problems of construct validity (Yin whose lives depend solely on the job will defend
1997). Triangulation types used in this themselves dutifully at work, including if they
research were data triangulation and method must oppose or rebel against the state.
triangulation. Triangulation of data was done There are many cases of marginalized or
by collecting data about the strategy pursued displaced persons defend their homes, or
by street vendors in 3 locations in maintaining workplaces and means of production for income.
the job. In 2010 and 2011 there were still many For example, farmers defend their fields or rice
poor people who worked as street vendors in fields, retirees (veterans of war) maintain their
Sampangan, Basudewo, and Kokrosono. old residential or dormitory homes, residents
Alternatively, since there was a checking in defend the residential homes they have occupied
the year of 2017 apparently, there remained 2 for years even though it has finally been proved
locations which were still used as a place to that the land used up so far does not belong to
trade, while there was 1 location that was no them, the fishermen desperate to go out to sea in
longer occupied by the seller, namely in unfriendly seasons despite being banned by the
Basudewo. Accordingly, the interesting local government, people near the forest
findings were that in Sampangan and desperately take tubers or fruits because that's
Kokrosono, there found many street vendors how they can eat, and street vendors still insist
newcomers. Second, the triangulation of on trading in places has long been used to earn a
methods was done by comparing the method fortune even if it is prohibited and even evicted
of interview with the method of observation, by the local government. The street vendors who
especially to know the motives or the reason trade on the side of the road, especially along the
they trade or sell services in the public space. riverbank of Banjir Kanal Barat could be
In accordance with the approach used, classified as stubborn street vendors. There were
the collected data were processed and as many as 15 people with the distribution as
analyzed using interactive qualitative analysis follows.
techniques, where the analysis process The fourteen vendors investigated in this
followed the cycle, ranging from reduction study belonged to unregistered or illegal street
JEJAK Journal of Economics and Policy Vol 11 (1) (2018) : 173-188 181

vendors. They continued to sell on the expelled. However, since they must fulfill the
roadside even though the income was not need of their family, they kept staying on
significant to meet the needs of decent living, location.
except the income of Mr. Mulyono and Since those street vendors had inadequate
Mustaqim. This shows that there was education, insufficient capital, no skills, and
something that made them survive and dare credit access, the only way to struggle in life for
to risk no matter how hard it was. Living full the poor was inspired by the term of "bonek".
of risk they live, including must be ready to be

Table 1. The Identity of the Street Vendors and the Type of Business as well as Their Income
No. Names Age (years Business Fields Location Income
old) (Rupiah) per
day
1 Minasat 49 Vent covers Sampangan 100,000.00
craftsman
2 Hermin 42 Seafood seller Sampangan 50,000.00
3 Satrio 29 Satay seller Sampangan 100,000.00
4 Muriman 56 Gado-gado Sampangan 100.000.00
seller
5 Adi Priyono 50 Ice cane seller Sampangan 50,000.00
6 Armis 45 Gasoline seller Basudewo 75,000.00
7 Sabar 57 Ice tapai seller Basudewo 50,000.00
8 Junaedi 52 Secondhand Kokrosono 50,000.00
cellular phone
seller
9 Yakub 70 Refuse-matter Kokrosono 50,000.00
seller
10 Pendi 44 Refuse-matter Kokrosono 50,000.00
seller
11 Maryono 55 Refuse-matter Kokrosono 50,000.00
seller
12 Mulyono 47 Agricultural Kokrosono 250,000.00
Equipment and
Carpentry seller
13 Salim 65 Refuse-matter Kokrosono 50,000.00
seller
14 Mustaqim 63 Agricultural Kokrosono 300,000.00
Equipment and
Carpentry seller
Source: Primary Data
suppressed situation around them made these
Which means (bondo nekat) or brave to
underprivileged groups struggle out of the
fight for their lives as well as for the family
shackles of poverty just to "live". Due to various
they love. Alternatively, the depressed and
182 Eko Handoyo & Avi Budi Setiawan., Street Vendors (PKL)

limitations, a group of people from low level "I am a nomads worker ... I have ever
economic condition perceived that being a experienced almost all jobs ... the important
street vendor is an appropriate choice. thing is not idle. I have ever been a driver, selling
Just relying on life from trading, clothes around, selling gasoline, open a business
according to some street vendors was not workshop ... actually selling gasoline together
enough. The gambling future made them with becoming tire repairs gave me a good
think to design other work or do part-time income. I could earn Rp75,000.00 per day ... it
work. Sometimes the wife's help to get could support the family living. However ... since
involved was also needed. Satrio Wibowo, for the location of the business evicted and leveled
example, one of the street vendors who earns with heavy equipment, I have got no idea on
a living in Sampangan, assisted his wife in what work should be done... I thank to Mr.
meeting the needs of the family by working in Achmad, the chairman of Basudewo street
the factory. Here is the narrative of Satrio vendors who were willing to succumb to move to
Wibowo. Kokrosono by occupying stalls in building H. I
"Working as a merchant is not the only finally chose to be a furniture craftsman ...
our income source ... I even have ever sold apparently, it turns pretty good results and it is
lizard and snake satay ... now I am selling goat easy to look for furniture making materials”
satay ... which I thought not enough for our "(interview with Armis, Sunday, April 17, 2011).
living cost... fortunately my wife understands Armis is kinds of a hard worker. He
such situation and is willing to work in the belonged to people who were not easily
factory ... just to supplement family income. discouraged. It was proven by the various jobs he
My mother also works as a merchant ... she has ever done before. After being evicted from
works to the north of my house, but I do not his place of selling, he chose to work as a
want to depend on my parents ... I feel pity to furniture craftsman until now. When asked the
her and I want to be independent ... if I can, I reasons to be a furniture craftsman with no skill
would like to help my parents" (interview with on such field, he gave the following answer.
Satrio, Sunday, 17 October 2010). "Before I was evicted, my daily trading was
When evicted, there were some street close to a furniture craftsman who also run a
vendors who slammed the bow to be able to business in Basudewo, so I know how they make
maintain the survival of their family. Armis chairs, tables and cupboards ... I also accidentally
(45 years old), a long-time trader occupying observed the way they work ... and then I am
the location of Basudewo, is one example of interested on the job by the time I got evicted ...
creative workers once he has got evicted. Alhamdulillah ... I could do it ... God is just fair
Before working as a retail gasoline trader as when his fellow needs him ... I was given his bless
well as opening a business of bicycle and for this "(interview with Armis, Sunday, 17 April
motorcycle tires, Mr. Armis worked as a 2011).
driver. After a massive eviction in Basudewo The uncertain market situation made the
in December 2010, Pak Armis finally moved to street vendors chose a strategy with variations of
the center of street vendors in Kokrosono by the type of work that made them possible to
working as a furniture craftsman. survive. It was also experienced by Armis. The
new job as a furniture craftsman apparently has
JEJAK Journal of Economics and Policy Vol 11 (1) (2018) : 173-188 183

not been promising to meet the needs of neighborhood associations (RTs) and setting
family life because the lack of buyer. aside some of his income for social and religious
Moreover, the reputation of Armis as an funds . Even from the work he occupies,
furniture craftsman has not been yet well- Mustaqim could perform the hajj pilgrimage
known. That is why, Armis still maintained with his wife and could save and bought goods
his old job, which is opening a motorcycle which represented the symbol of the upper
repair shop with his brother at the old middle class status such as motorcycles, three-
location in Basudewo. "Lately I got only few wheel motorcycles, homes, and jewelry.
clients, so in order to keep my kitchen Another example is Muriman, a gado-gado
"ngebul"(the term used to express when the seller in Sampangan (who has now moved to sell
necessities of life are fulfilled) I opened my old at his home near Sampangan market) and Sador
business, the business of a motorcycle repair who sold pecel at Simpang Lima roundabout.
shop with my brother", said Armis. Other than that, it is obvious that there are still
In the case of the street vendors in many successful street vendors in business.
Semarang, it was found that everyone could Unlike Mustaqim, Muriman, Mulyono, and
actually find ways to deal with the challenge Sador, most of the street vendors investigated in
of survival. This is related to the survival this study employed the first strategy, namely
strategy. the survival that is all taken to maintain their
Any survival strategies adopted by lives survival.People survival strategies are
individuals or community groups depend on various. For example, Satrio, a street vendors
their social status and economic condition. who has ever sold in Sampangan, assisted by his
Also, kinds of strategies being pursued were wife in meeting the needs of the family. Before
related to the quality of human and his place of trading was evicted, he worked as a
environmental resources. In relation to this, seller of lizard and snake satay, and after the
the street vendors in Sampangan, Basudewo, eviction, he turned into the seller of goat satay.
and Kokrosono adopted the first type of The eviction also affected toward Armis, who
survival strategy as proposed by White, used to work as a retailer of gasoline and tires,
namely work to meet daily needs as street and is now working as a furniture craftsman near
vendors in order to survive. There were only a his home.
few street vendors who took the second These show that (1) street vendors have
strategy which is consolidation and third, tremendous resilience when facing challenges
namely capital accumulation. The second and problems of life and they are able to get out
strategy was implemented by Mulyono, while of trouble, (2) their new jobs are not totally
Mustaqim was the example of successful different from the previous ones, which are
street vendors representing the third strategy. around economic business informal sector, (3)
For more, Mustaqim, who worked as a the street vendors have economic intelligence,
trader of farming, carpentry and household that is able to exploit existing potential and read
appliances in Kokrosono, was able not only to situation to earn income to support family. This
meet family needs, but also social needs, such is in accordance with Kluckhohn's cultural value
as interacting with neighbors in orientation system which is developed by
184 Eko Handoyo & Avi Budi Setiawan., Street Vendors (PKL)

Koentjaraningrat, namely life is understood jemput bola (talent scouting), which was realized
by street vendors as a bad thing, but can still by keeping closer to the consumer. Such facts are
be improved if they want to stay alive. This is supported by Zakik 's research (2006) which
the same as what was experienced by street shows that street vendors have a high
vendors who were affected by development entrepreneurial ethos, independent, and not
projects. They were not easily discouraged dependent on the help of others.
and immediately turned to other work that Above all, it is obvious that life is not easy.
allows them to support their families. Life is easy-hard, so is looking for income.
Although many view that being illegal street Although it is hard, as long as people are willing
vendors are considered as disobedience to do "tangan gelem kemlawe" (want to work),
citizens, it is recognized that street vendors they will be able to earn revenue. It depends on
have endurance and entrepreneurial ethos the value orientation of a person or society about
that are not less high than formal sector something. The orientation of values is
entrepreneurs. The vendors studied were understood as a general and systematic
generally low-educated, have relatively small conception of nature, of human relationships to
capital, and rely their economic management human beings and of the desirable and
on families, but they are able to raise their undesirable, as they can be related to human-
lives to a better level of economic prosperity. environmental and human relationships
Besides, the marketing system used was the (Marzali 2005: 122).

Table 2. Cultural Values Orientation Framework

Life Issues Cultural Values Orientation

The nature of life Life is bad Life is good Life is bad, but it
has to be improved
The nature of work Work for life Work for position Work to increase
the quality of the
work
The nature of human Past Present Future
in time space
The nature of human Subject to nature Seeking harmony Mastering nature
relationships with with nature
nature
The nature of human Look at superior Concerned the sense Concerned feeling
relationships with figures of dependence on of not relying
humans others something on others
Source: Marzali (2005: 125)
JEJAK Journal of Economics and Policy Vol 11 (1) (2018) : 173-188 185

The concept of value orientation was us, who will feed", that is the expression of the
developed by Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck, street vendors.
which was then abbreviated as K & S. This Living for work or work to live like a street
concept of value orientation by vendor is the most dominant motivation that
Koentjaraningrat was introduced in the social drives the poor to work as street vendors. The
repertoire of anthropology in Indonesia in informant studied stated that being a street
terms of cultural value orientation. vendor is the only job. That is the same as what
In this cultural value orientation, life was stated by Salim, refure-matter seller in
issues and how to view life are understood in Kokrosono, as in the following. "there is no other
accordance with the orientation of the chosen jobs, sir. The one I can do is become a seller ...
cultural values. the easy work to do. Besides, I am already old and
The frame of cultural value orientation have no capital. In the past, I was still able to be
can be seen in the following table. a pedicab driver because I was young and got
For certain people, life is good and work much power. However, now the condition is on
is understood as a way of finding a position. the opposite side. (interview with Salim, Sunday,
Politicians or businessmen who are October 10, 2010). From the results of interviews
dissatisfied with their status and position seek and observations, the study shows that there are
to work to accumulate wealth and strive to 7 motives which prove that becoming street
enter politics, work in politics or at least vendors is the right economic choice. The
support a certain political stream, in the hope motives are (1) small or limited capital, (2) want
that in the future it can gain a position as a independent business, (3) no more suitable
people's representative in Senayan, become a work, (4) family tradition, (5) avoid to be
member of parliament in the region or may unemployed, (6) work easier, (7) old age (for
become Governor, Mayor or Head of district. older traders).
For people from lower middle classes, The subjects of this study occupied public
including street vendors, life is understood as spaces, especially on sidewalks used by
something bad and their work is understood pedestrians, shoulders and roadside near Banjir
as a way to live. Not working means they are Kanal Barat. Moreover, the street vendors in
not alive. Work is the essence of human life Sampangan, Basudewo, and Kokrosono who
and as long as man lives, he must work have been evicted in 2010 (Handoyo 2012)
(Anoraga 2001: 24). The street vendors eventually returned to the streets. Seven years
"survive" because they work. after the evictions, the two areas which are still
In terms of time, they do not see the packed with street vendors are Sampangan and
past, neither does the future of his life be what Kokrosono. In Sampangan, although the road
it was unthinkable before. The thinking is the has been trimmed and the riverbank of Banjir
present. Working now can meet the kanal Barat is fenced and the former Sampangan
necessities of life. Working later, they will not market has been transformed into Taman
eat. "Who cares about us", so often spoken by Sampangan, with the intention that the
street vendors who work on the streets. "If not Sampangan area is cleanly cleaned from street
vendors, but the reality is that many street
186 Eko Handoyo & Avi Budi Setiawan., Street Vendors (PKL)

vendors try to fate in the region, especially at vendors. They occupy the sidewalk to the
night. Of the many traders during the shoulders of the road to the east near the
evictions of 2010 who still survive are nasi settlement. Similar to the past, goods are sold,
gandul vendors, while other street vendors not much different from the goods sold during
are newcomers, such as fried rice sellers, milk the eviction of 2010, the tools of agriculture and
traders, grilled sausage sellers, sempolan carpentry, used clothing, motorcycle parts
sellers, roasted corn sellers, meatballs sellers, (secondhand), used phones, and other goods.
and other food sellers selling food which are Among them, there are also street vendors
favored by young people. Those sellers gather selling 3 kilos-sized gas cylinder. Some of them
near the Taman Sampangan. are newcomers who generally trade in parts and
Unlike the Sampangan area, in used goods. The city government has provided a
Basudewo, there are not many former of street safer place, such as the street vendors building in
vendors who occupy their previous place of Kokrosono, but there are still many illegal street
selling. There are only two former street vendors who insist on staying in a location or
vendors in the evictions who are still running public space that should not be used for trading
businesses in the place, namely ice tapai and services. From interviews conducted with
sellers and gasoline sellers. Similarly, there street vendors, they are informed that they know
are no new street vendors in Basudewo. This and realize that roads and sidewalks are public
is understandable since the roads in the spaces that should not be used for trading
Basudewo region are too narrow for informal activities. However, because of their limitations
sector economic activity, especially now that (lack of sufficient capital, uneducated, unskilled,
the road has turned into a one-lane street, and skills), the street vendors are forced to sell or
unlike in 2010. This condition makes people run a business in order to earn income.
hard to pass along and cause the street along In addition, roads or sidewalks are crowded
Basudewo lacks of wild street vendors. Also, places and people visit, so by placing
the roadside of Basudewo, the same as in merchandise on the side of the road, their goods
previous years is used by furniture will be known directly by drivers and riders that
entrepreneurs to dry the finished tables and have interest to buy something that is in the area.
chairs. The third reason why public space is used
Kokrosono is a trading and service area is due to the lack of government's attention to
that has similarities with the Sampangan area. illegal street vendors. Many of the street vendors
In addition to the two-lane road, this area is are immigrants and generally they are not
also crowded by drivers and riders. Moreover, covered by social security programs, including
in Kokrosono, especially across the railway, not getting a poor card. The absence of the state
there is a relocation place for street vendors in in their lives makes the street vendors dare to
the form of high rise buildings to break the rules by trading in public spaces, such
accommodate street vendors who have been as on the sidewalks and sidewalks.
evicted from the place. Nevertheless, the
CONCLUSION
Kokrosono road lane starts from the Banjiral
Bridge bridge to the north towards Street vendors generally belong to the
Kokrosono, there are still found wild street middle to lower class. For people from middle to
JEJAK Journal of Economics and Policy Vol 11 (1) (2018) : 173-188 187

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