Should Street Traders Have A Business License?

            Nowadays, street traders play a vital role in vibrant marketplaces right across Indonesia. Street trading stalls are an important part of Indonesian culture and offer a great place to shop. There are some types of peddler in Indonesia. The first is peddlers that are usually sole traders, often selling small novelty items. Licensed street traders, on the other hand, are generally static traders operating in a specific location from a stall selling fruit, clothes, etc. The Peddlers Act describes a peddler as someone who travels and trades on foot and goes from town to town or door to door, carrying goods for sale. All of them are comes from informal sector and it is important for them to have a business license so that they cannot forcedly moved by the police. Street trading also became a tradition in Indonesia which sells traditional food and stuff in several public holidays. For instance, in Ramadan Days as we call it “pasar kaget” in Indonesian which sells ta’jil for Iftar and some cookies for Eid al-Fitr. That is why street traders should have business license to support their trading activities and keep one of Indonesian culture as well.

In general, goods in street trading have cultivated a relatively affordable price by the purchaser, which is the main buyer of middle communities that have low purchasing power. The existence of street trading can be quite promising tourism potential, so that the existence of street trading has mushroomed in the corners of the city. Another positive impact is also evident in terms of social and economic, as the informal sector has the characteristics of an efficient and economical. This is according to research coordinator of the informal sector of the ILO in 8 developing countries, Sethurahman, street trading has the ability to create a surplus for investment and can help boost economic growth. This is due to the efforts of subsistence and informal sectors of capital used mostly derived from the traders own business. The capital did not spend a huge economic resource.

By having a business license it ensures that consumers can have confidence that street traders will have the same checks no matter where they trade. This will include a check of the Police National Database to see whether the applicant has a criminal record or is suspected of having links with criminal activities. Shoppers can have confidence that street traders have undergone proper checks before trading, while making those checks simple and straightforward. We want a system that is fair for everyone who wants to sell and buy goods.

People believe that the characteristics of the street trading who use the space to the public interest, especially on the road and sidewalks to perform activities that lead to non-functioning of the means of public interest. However, it is really rejected. Judging from the positive side, the informal sector of street trading is a lifesaver belt that holds the excess labor that can not be accommodated in the formal sector (Usman, 2006: 50; Handoyono, 2012), so as to reduce unemployment. The presence of street trading in urban space can also increase the vitality of the area they occupy, and act as a liaison between the activities of municipal services function with each other. In addition, street trading also provide services to the people who move around the location of street trading, so they get a service that is easy and fast to get the goods they need.

Overall, the government should give the street traders business license to make sure that they are protected. People who wish to apply for a street trading permit must ensure their proposed activity is aligned to these principles and the appropriate selection criteria for each activity. The changes will help to reduce barriers to street traders and peddlers by making it easier to trade, boosting retail and helping small traders - including many young entrepreneurs - to expand and grow. It will bring a better economical aspect for future Indonesia.

References

City of Melbourne website (www.melbourne.vic.gov.au). 2011. Street Trading. Melbourne.

Handoyono, Eko. 2012. Street Vendor, A Study of Social Fund Contribution. Article. Semarang.

Swinson, Jo. 2014. Street Trading and Pedlary Laws to be Modernized. Article. London.

Utomo, Yuli. 2012. Street Trading and Public Policies. Article. Jakarta

Argumentative Writing Task 5                                                                      INDRIANI DWI PUTRI

Public Argumentative                                                                                                130221612295