How much do you pay for a good driver in Jakarta

[Jaime C]

Wages are quite variable. I know my Indonesian wife pays local Bandung pricing for most labor. Although our long time maid seems to get paid almost double what my wife's friend pays her.

I try to encourage my wife to give periodic raises, to make sure that their income keeps up to rising costs. We also give her 70% of what she would earn, when we are out of town on vacation. This is often 2-4 weeks, so can add up.

7-9 jt a month for a driver seems quite expensive. Are there special skills required? Firearms, or personal protection?

 

[centurion]

Wages are quite variable. I know my Indonesian wife pays local Bandung pricing for most labor. Although our long time maid seems to get paid almost double what my wife's friend pays her.

I try to encourage my wife to give periodic raises, to make sure that their income keeps up to rising costs. We also give her 70% of what she would earn, when we are out of town on vacation. This is often 2-4 weeks, so can add up.

7-9 jt a month for a driver seems quite expensive. Are there special skills required? Firearms, or personal protection?

Fluent in Bahasa, English, Mandarine and conversational French.

 

[WhyMe]

Getting a bit frustrated to see how things are derailed here, anyways still searching and most of my friends only pay 3 - 4 mil a month plus overtime. Bahasa is fine with some English and I am not looking for any special skills.

Thanks everyone for the inputs and really appreciate it.

 

[Shadrach]

Fluent in Bahasa, English, Mandarine and conversational French.

Why in the world would a driver need to know conversational French? And now it seems your right about learning Chinese, and Russian, since they are buying their way into the society here. I don't know which Chinese to learn either Mandarin or Cantonese?
I do know that the Indonesian people should really think about what's to come, if they continue to let these foreigners lease properties, and build huge Resorts, Airports, the new Capital, toll roads, etc!
This development is not coming from the kindness of their Heart! They will have their foot in the door and have control of future development's!
What's next Casino's?

 

[john madden]

Why in the world would a driver need to know conversational French? And now it seems your right about learning Chinese, and Russian, since they are buying their way into the society here. I don't know which Chinese to learn either Mandarin or Cantonese?
I do know that the Indonesian people should really think about what's to come, if they continue to let these foreigners lease properties, and build huge Resorts, Airports, the new Capital, toll roads, etc!
This development is not coming from the kindness of their Heart! They will have their foot in the door and have control of future development's!
What's next Casino's?

Please do not derail the thread. I asked nicely earlier, and the OP has subsequently complained. Plenty of other threads to blather on in.

 

[Banana72]

Getting a bit frustrated to see how things are derailed here, anyways still searching and most of my friends only pay 3 - 4 mil a month plus overtime. Bahasa is fine with some English and I am not looking for any special skills.

Thanks everyone for the inputs and really appreciate it.

Just to add...some people have exclusive drivers (only drive), some have driver/informal security (satpam) basically just stay at the house...open doors if packages arrive from online shops, etc...or if you have a house with a small yard..sometimes they help raking the leaves, etc or assist with heavier chores/projects like painting walls, maybe help fix broken pipes, cleaning AC, etc.

Depending on experience, maybe try 3 mill base+ 30k/day (monday-Friday) maybe 50K Saturdays 75K-100K . That should put you closer to the 4 mill/mth mark. Sometimes the driver/employee might collect the daily allowance at the end of the week too instead of daily. Many use the daily allowance basically just to live off that, and give the salary to the wife at home. Also it is quite common for the employer to share food that the house maid cooks if say for example the driver happens to be at home during lunch time. House maid makes snacks (banana fritters, etc) and give to the driver as he enjoys it with coffee and smokes after he washes the cars, etc.

Also set the time expectation also when it's considered 'after work' for overtime? Most people have the standard 7-5 (especially with kids going to school) or 8-6

 

[WhyMe]

Just to add...some people have exclusive drivers (only drive), some have driver/informal security (satpam) basically just stay at the house...open doors if packages arrive from online shops, etc...or if you have a house with a small yard..sometimes they help raking the leaves, etc or assist with heavier chores/projects like painting walls, maybe help fix broken pipes, cleaning AC, etc.

Depending on experience, maybe try 3 mill base+ 30k/day (monday-Friday) maybe 50K Saturdays 75K-100K . That should put you closer to the 4 mill/mth mark. Sometimes the driver/employee might collect the daily allowance at the end of the week too instead of daily. Many use the daily allowance basically just to live off that, and give the salary to the wife at home. Also it is quite common for the employer to share food that the house maid cooks if say for example the driver happens to be at home during lunch time. House maid makes snacks (banana fritters, etc) and give to the driver as he enjoys it with coffee and smokes after he washes the cars, etc.

Also set the time expectation also when it's considered 'after work' for overtime? Most people have the standard 7-5 (especially with kids going to school) or 8-6

Thanks for the explanation, already have these points and just need a driver only at the moment. I hope i am able to find one and right now it seems like an up hill task

 

[Jaime C]

Our driver/helper is my wifes cousin. On an average day, he drives an hour or two, mostly when my kid is in school. He does some household stuff, cleaning the AC filters, changing water bottles.

He also goes to pick up food orders, grocery store, and uses my daughters US credit card, or mine, and has never ever, been questioned at stores or gas stations.

He’s treated the same as other family members, too. We go to a hotel, he stays with us. Same food, movies, etc. He has a lot of downtime, and ends up playing games on his ipad for 6-10 hours a day. We don’t care, as long as stuff gets done when needed.

His biggest work tasks, are when my wife goes to work in the business in the US for 6-8 weeks every year. He’ll usually bring up food and beverages for me, do a lot more food runs, etc.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks for the explanation, already have these points and just need a driver only at the moment. I hope i am able to find one and right now it seems like an up hill task

I am wondering, do you have the car, or does driver has to use theirs? I don't think anyone can work 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, for IDR. 100,000 a day. This comes out to IDR. 3,000,000 a month. And bumping it up 30 or 40 Rupiah a day is not much. Especially if this driver has a family to support. And giving them a banana fritter, and a cup of coffee is not a full meal. These people have their own lives to take care of. They can't just wait around all day, and clean your garden, or wash your car.
I don't think the people suggesting this wage would do the same work for such a low price.

 

[Hawk256]

I am wondering, do you have the car, or does driver has to use theirs? I don't think anyone can work 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, for IDR. 100,000 a day. This comes out to IDR. 3,000,000 a month. And bumping it up 30 or 40 Rupiah a day is not much. Especially if this driver has a family to support. And giving them a banana fritter, and a cup of coffee is not a full meal. These people have their own lives to take care of. They can't just wait around all day, and clean your garden, or wash your car.
I don't think the people suggesting this wage would do the same work for such a low price.

You need to tell all the people working and happy at those prices that it is unacceptable to you. Do you know what a live in maid makes pre month? Granted she does get free food and things like shampoo and soap provided.

 

[Shadrach]

You need to tell all the people working and happy at those prices that it is unacceptable to you. Do you know what a live in maid makes pre month? Granted she does get free food and things like shampoo and soap provided.

What about the low price offer for a driver, that already has a home, and family elsewhere? Everyone I know that is a driver, cannot support their family on such low wages!

 

[Hawk256]

What about the low price offer for a driver, that already has a home, and family elsewhere? Everyone I know that is a driver, cannot support their family on such low wages!

I don't know who you know but there are people that get by on a lot less and work a lot harder. Labor is cheap here, that is just a fact. That's why you go into a store here and have plenty of people ready to help you but you go into a store in the US and finding a staff member is like searching a ghost town.

 

[harryopal1]

I don't know who you know but there are people that get by on a lot less and work a lot harder. Labor is cheap here, that is just a fact. That's why you go into a store here and have plenty of people ready to help you but you go into a store in the US and finding a staff member is like searching a ghost town.

The same happening in Australia. I never use the self processing check out as it is designed to take away jobs and create more profit for these greedy companies.

 

[Shadrach]

I don't know who you know but there are people that get by on a lot less and work a lot harder. Labor is cheap here, that is just a fact. That's why you go into a store here and have plenty of people ready to help you but you go into a store in the US and finding a staff member is like searching a ghost town.

I am speaking of the people that own a car, have a wife, a few kids, etc. they tell me the cost of all of this is not cheap. All of them borrow money from the bank, to buy the car. That's a lot if interest monthly. Plus gasoline, upkeep, tires. To put the kids in school, uniforms, shoes, books, transportation, lunch, etc. daily going to the market, electricity, LPG, water, and so on.
Just ask someone, that works in the stores, and they will tell you how little they are payed, and tell you it's not enough. Sure, a store can have lots of employee's because the boss pays so little.
While the bosses, drive Mercedes, and all their children have new motorbikes. It's called Exploitation!

 

[john madden]

@WhyMe I hope that you've got what you need from this thread already. Cats, herding etc.

 

[Shadrach]

@WhyMe I hope that you've got what you need from this thread already. Cats, herding etc.

I was asked not to derail the subject of hiring and paying a fair wage to drivers. I speak from my experience talking with two separate drivers, who have families, and their needs for a decent wage to drive someone. It depends on the distance, and time involved. Whenever I am finished with a journey and have returned home, I always pay the appropriate amount for the trip.
I also ask if they are satisfied with the amount I pay them, and if not, I ask what's needed, and I pay until they are happy. I understand that this service they provide is their livelihood, for their entire family.
Asking if I got what I needed from this thread, referring to Animals, seems to be derailing the thread from the topic at hand.

 

[john madden]

I was asked not to derail the subject of hiring and paying a fair wage to drivers. I speak from my experience talking with two separate drivers, who have families, and their needs for a decent wage to drive someone. It depends on the distance, and time involved. Whenever I am finished with a journey and have returned home, I always pay the appropriate amount for the trip.
I also ask if they are satisfied with the amount I pay them, and if not, I ask what's needed, and I pay until they are happy. I understand that this service they provide is their livelihood, for their entire family.
Asking if I got what I needed from this thread, referring to Animals, seems to be derailing the thread from the topic

The OP didn't ask about a "fair" wage. See the original question. The OP didn't ask for a discussion about students destined for Japan. And be careful trying the patience of a moderator with smart arse responses.

 

[fastpitch17]

The OP didn't ask about a "fair" wage. See the original question. The OP didn't ask for a discussion about students destined for Japan. And be careful trying the patience of a moderator with smart arse responses.

No disrespect to the outstanding moderators here but would not asking for an average salary indicate a fair rate for a driver and how it would associate with the area's cost of living.

I do have to ask, if some of the post are so off from the intended subject, would not a moderator be the one responsible to either delete or move the offensive off topic postings? Of course, it would be and endless job managing all the off topic postings and stopping them right away and not weeks later throughout the forum. JMHO

 

[WhyMe]

I am wondering, do you have the car, or does driver has to use theirs? I don't think anyone can work 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, for IDR. 100,000 a day. This comes out to IDR. 3,000,000 a month. And bumping it up 30 or 40 Rupiah a day is not much. Especially if this driver has a family to support. And giving them a banana fritter, and a cup of coffee is not a full meal. These people have their own lives to take care of. They can't just wait around all day, and clean your garden, or wash your car.
I don't think the people suggesting this wage would do the same work for such a low price.

Yup already have a car and right now I am the driver

I have got a few candidates and like two of them who asked for 4 Mill which i think is fair. The only job they have to do is to pick n drop my kids from school and take care of the car. Maybe once a week take my wife and maid for grocery but thats all. Most of the drivers in the apartment complex just sit down stairs in the drivers waiting area whole day and watch tv or play games on mobile.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

Imagine if they used that time instead to educate themselves, get some qualifications, so that in future they didn't have to scrape around for such sh**ty work.