‘There’s nothing we can do’: Indonesia’s small businesses brace for impact of fuel price hike

JAKARTA: Zainal Ridho, 41, owns a car rental firm in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

Previously, the day rate for his Toyota Innova, including the associated with subsidised Pertalite fuel, was 800, 1000 rupiah (US$54).  

Last week, this individual raised the price to 900, 000 rupiah per day, amid the particular widespread belief how the government would quickly increase the price of subsidised fuel.

“I must explain to absolutely free themes why I have modified the rental price, ” he mentioned. While he nevertheless has loyal clients, some of them try to make a deal a better deal to get a lower price, he mentioned.  

Additionally , his 20 workers have also requested a salary increase as their expenditures have been going up.  

Last weekend, the government announced that it can increase subsidised fuel costs can be 30 per cent amid rising global costs.  

The price of subsidised diesel rose from 5, 150 rupiah per litre to six, 800 rupiah. Subsidised gasoline now costs 10, 000 rupiah per litre, upward from 7, 650 rupiah previously.

The move is necessary to curb spending on ballooning energy financial aid, said President Joko Widodo last Sunday (Sep 3).  

He said that the budget for energy financial assistance nationally has swollen to 502. four trillion rupiah, in the initial 152. five trillion rupiah budgeted last year.  

The federal government anticipates the fuel price walk to drive up pumpiing to about six. 6 per cent through 4. 69 % currently.  

Besides raising the price of diesel plus 90-octane gasoline, known locally as Pertalite, the government also increased the price of 92-octane gasoline.  

Called Pertamax, it went from 12, five hundred rupiah per litre to 14, five hundred rupiah per litre. Pertamax is usually used by car owners along with newer and bigger engines.

The fuel price hike came into effect an hour after the president’s announcement.

To make softer the blow, the government said that it will pay direct cash exchanges to about 20 million poor households.  

“We will distribute 150, 500 rupiah per month starting from September for 4 months to twenty. 65 million underprivileged families, ” stated Mr Widodo throughout the televised announcement.  

Despite these procedures, there were sporadic protests in several Indonesian cities this week.

In Jakarta, thousands of people came back against the price walk. Similar protests had been also held consist of cities such as Surabaya, Makassar and Kendari.

On the back of the fuel walk, the transport ministry said on Wednesday that fares with regard to app-based motorbike taxis, a popular mode associated with daily transport, may also go up.  

Fares for each kilometer will increase simply by between 6 percent to 13. 3 or more per, effective from this weekend.  

As a lower-middle-income economy with a major national income for each capita of US$4, 140 last year, Indonesia’s economy is dependent upon its micro, little and medium enterprises (MSMEs).  

About 98 per cent of these are micro-enterprises that are sensitive to even minor economic policy changes.  

Although it is still early days to see the full impact of the fuel price hike, enterprises across Philippines are already bracing them selves for how it will hit them in the long run.