Yogyakarta, IO – Ari (57), one of the ladies working as a porter in Beringharjo Market in Yogyakarta, feels the harsh reality of earning a living. Despite being an elderly citizen, Ari is still forced to work extra hard in the market, mostly carrying heavy groceries for unpredictable and pitiful pay.
Ari is not alone. Many other porters start their day before sunrise and labor until noon, bringing the market to life with their incredible tenacity and perseverance.
Most of the porters are women who do not hesitate to carry heavy loads. They are accustomed to hauling weights of up to 50 kilograms from the first to the third floors of Beringharjo Market. Typically, these porters have regular customers who rely on their services. They earn between IDR 5,000 and IDR 10,000 for each load they carry. During busy market days, a porter can earn around IDR 50,000 to IDR 70,000 per day.
Porters have become an important element of Beringharjo Market. Their agility as they dash towards arriving vegetable trucks or their determination as they navigate the market while carrying heavy loads is an inseparable daily sight in the market’s hustle and bustle.
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Most of these women are over 50 years of age, showing their extraordinary resilience and dedication. Beringharjo Market has about of these 210 female porters, whose grit, determination and relentless spirit can teach the next generation invaluable life lessons.
(IO/Faisal Ramadhan)