The eve of de-privatization of water services in Jakarta
19 January 2015
PSI, Transnational Institute, Amrta Institute for Water Literacy and Jakarta Water Trade Union have published a series of four fact-sheets that outline how and why water privatisation failed and the potential for a renewed effective public service.
Jakarta is currently striving to join many cities around the world and remunicipalising its water.
Public Services International (PSI), Transnational Institute (TNI), Amrta Institute for Water Literacy (Indonesia) and Jakarta Water Trade Union (SP-PDAM Jakarta) have produced the following fact-sheets to highlight different angles of problems of the privatization in Jakarta:
- It is Time to End Water Privatisation
- The Impact of Water Privatisation in Jakarta
- The Unfair Cooperation Agreement on Water Privatisation
- The Reliable Performance of Public Water Services
The Central Jakarta District Court will soon reach a decision on the lawsuit to challenge the legality of Jakarta water privatization filed by the Coalition of Jakarta Residents Opposing Water Privatization (KMMSAJ). The court’s decision has been postponed by the judges, who say they are not ready to deliver the verdict and the two defendants have requested reconciliation (read the article in the Jakarta Post). We will inform the global water justice community about the court decision as soon as it becomes public.
The privatization of water services by two private operators started in 1998. The main purpose of privatization was to improve water services. Private operators were given the exclusive right to deliver water services. However, after more than 15 years of privatization, Jakarta's water services are still far from satisfactory.
Civil society groups and the water trade union strongly opposed the privatization. Countless rallies and public discussions over the years demanded that water services be brought back into public hands. The support and solidarity from the global water justice community have been critical to sustain our mobilization.
In 2013, then Governor of Jakarta Joko Widodo (currently President of Indonesia) promised that he would put an end to the water privatization. Today, many cities across the planet are returning privatized water services to public management.
Jakarta is currently striving to join this group and remunicipalize its water. We will keep you apprised of developments.