Struggling Elderly Men in Indonesia Plead for Financial Relief
Headline: Jakarta's "Silvermen" – The Shocking Story of Young Men Braving the Elements to Survive
Subhead: An unflinching look at one of Indonesia's most shocking symptoms of economic turmoil – and the lengths some young men will go to scrape by amidst the dire post-pandemic job market.
In the heart of Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, rain pours down on a group of men clad in metallic silver paint. Known locally as the "manusia silver" or "silvermen," these individuals brave the harsh elements to earn a living.
The silver paint is not just a fashion statement – it's their ticket to survival amid worsening economic conditions and dwindling job opportunities. As young men like Ari Munandar, 25, weigh their reluctance against their desperate need, they are forced to grin and bear the stares – and the health hazards – in their quest to make ends meet.
"I'm embarrassed to earn money like this," Ari confesses. "But when you think of your family, the embarrassment fades away."
Ari, his brother Keris, and their friend Riyan Ahmad Fazriyansah each take a lane on the busy road, their bared feet and slender frames adorned with only shorts and the metallic paint to protect them from the elements. They strike robotic poses before the drivers, their attempts at entertainment a mere ploy to entice cash.
"Good afternoon, enjoy your drive," Ari calls out to the drivers.
On a decent day, they can score up to 200,000 rupiah ($12), but more typically take home around 120,000 rupiah – barely enough to sustain themselves, let alone their families. Each penny counts, as prices rise across the archipelago.
"I won't even have lunch today," Ari admits. "Just a smoke and a drink."
The unforgiving economic climate is the primary reason young men and women like Ari have taken to the streets. Without sufficient income, they are unable to afford even basic necessities.
"I've been jobless since 2019," Ari shares. "Before that, I cleaned toilets."
According to government data, the number of people living below the poverty line in metropolitan Jakarta has surged dramatically – from 362,000 in 2019 to 449,000 as of September 2024.
Bhima Yudistira, the executive director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies, explains, "Many young people without qualifications, aged between 20 and 40, have found themselves unemployed. Even though there is no national count, there has been a significant increase in begging in Jakarta after the pandemic of 2021."
After hours spent on the street, the trio returns home by hitchhiking a ride from a tuk-tuk. Exhausted and penniless, they light a shared cigarette before continuing their trek through the polluted streets to their Jakarta slum.
The harsh life they lead is evident: Ari, Keris, and Riyan are all undernourished – with none exceeding 55 kilograms. The paint, similar to that used for fabric screen-printing, proves difficult to remove, leaving them with red, itchy skin.
"At first the paint burned and gave me a blister," Ari recalls. "Now it only stings my eyes."
Despite the hardships, Ari finds solace at home, especially when he's around his one-year-old daughter Arisya.
"As soon as I get home, I forget everything," he smiles. "But I hope she never has to do what I do."
Insight: Unemployment and economic instability have driven an increase in begging among young people in Jakarta following the COVID-19 pandemic. The costs of living have risen significantly, putting added strain on vulnerable populations. Rising poverty levels and a lack of adequate support systems have compounded the struggles faced by young individuals attempting to make ends meet. In response, organizations are working towards implementing programs to support economic growth, improve access to employment and education, and strengthen social safety nets for vulnerable populations in Jakarta and beyond.
[Source] (original article and enrichment data)
In search of personal-finance solutions, young men like Ari had resorted to unusual means to survive amidst the challenging economic environment of Jakarta. Despite the ubiquitous struggle for financial stability, the dire post-pandemic job market forced many, including Ari, to turn towards unconventional means of earning, even if it meant working as the 'silvermen' on city streets.
