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   MANAGEMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF SIDEWALK TRADERS 
IN WEST DENPASAR SUB DISTRICT DENPASAR CITY:  

IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF CULTURAL STUDIES  
 
 
 

I Wayan Wana Pariartha1, I Made Suastika2, 
Emiliana Mariyah2, I Ketut Sudibia3 

 
 

1Postgraduate Program, Udayana University 
2Faculty of Letters, Udayana University 

3Faculty of Economics, Udayana University 
 
 
 

Abstract 
 
 Sidewalk traders, as informal economic sector, have been in existence in almost all 
the cities in Indonesia. As an impact of migration of people, they have been recognized as a 
structural phenomenon which will always exist. They will always exist in Denpasar City. In 
West Denpasar Sub District, as part of Denpasar City, their existence has been assumed not 
only to cause the city to look disorganized but it has also been assumed to create discomfort 
and to disturb public order. However, as Indonesian citizens, they have the right to have 
occupation and live properly as stated in Article 27 of the 1945 Constitution. The 
empowerment management of the sidewalk traders in West Denpasar Sub District refers to 
the Local Rules and Regulations (Perda) of number 3 of Year 2000. However, the fact in 
the field shows that what has been expected has not been properly coming true yet.  
 Based on this fact, a research was conducted with the problems formulated as 
follows: 1) how the government managed the empowerment of the sidewalk traders; 2) 
what responses were given by the community to the model of such a management of 
empowerment; 3) and what were its effects and meanings. As a consequence, this research 
aims at 1) identifying the management of empowerment of the sidewalk traders; 2) 
identifying the responses given by the community to the model of such a management of 
empowerment; 3) identifying its effects and meanings. From the aspect of methodology, 
this research is classified as a qualitative one. The theory of deconstruction, the theory of 
hegemony, the theory of response, the theory of motivation and achievement were 
employed for exploring the problems formulated above. The techniques employed for 
collecting the data needed were the technique of observation, the technique of interview,  
the technique of observation and focus discussion group.  
 The findings show that the Local Rules and Regulations (Perda) of Number 3 of 
2000, which is derived from the Local Rules and Regulations (Perda) of Number 15 of 
Year 1993, which is used as the reference of how such a management of empowerment is 
conducted, does not accommodate the problems related to the sidewalk traders. In fact, it 
has been implemented by the government in the following three ways; (1) through the sub 
district governmental agencies; (2) through direct supervision of the municipal, sub district, 
administrative village and neighborhood governmental agencies; (3) through traditional 
villages (desa pekraman/adat).  
 The responses given by the community varied. The responses given by the 
community of consumers were negative resulting from lack of socialization. The responses 
given by the sidewalk traders were negative as well. However, socially, economically and 



politically, the empowerment management of the sidewalk traders gave positive and 
negative impacts. And the meanings given by such a management of empowerment were 
related to solidarity, well being and psychology. Based on the findings of the research, a 
model of management of empowerment through the cooperation among the government, 
private parties and the sidewalk traders was recommended. 
 
Keywords: Sidewalk traders, Model of empowerment, Informal sector, Management 



1. Introduction  
 Economically, politically and socio culturally, the development in every sector of 

life conducted by the government has resulted in many changes.  However, the changes 

resulting from such a development may lead to progress as well as decline. The decline, in 

this case, can be illustrated by the economic recession, crisis and the uncontrollable rate of 

inflation both nationally and regionally. The economic changes may change the pattern of 

life of the community both in rural and urban areas. The progress achieved in urban areas 

resulting from both the industrial development and educational improvement has made the 

cities interesting. This has inspired people to migrate from the rural areas where they live to 

urban areas which may belong to different regencies and provinces. In addition, the regional 

development in economy, transportation, and communication has also contributed to the 

volume and direction of the migration (Pariartha, 1982: 2). 

 The sidewalk traders are basically the migrants coming from rural areas with low 

expertise and education, making them not have the access to the formal sectors of life. They 

usually run their businesses with small capital. Therefore, they can be classified as the 

people with low income. They usually live in slum areas or in the suburbs, where it is 

possible for them to find cheap boarding houses. They live in very small and simple houses 

where they can “have break and sleep”. Their low income has also motivated them to 

minimize their expenditures, just for food and clothing. The attempt made to renovate their 

shelter reflects that they have very limited capital (Andre et.al. 1979: 48). Such a condition 

shows that the sidewalk traders are a group of less powerful people in every aspect of life 

especially economically; therefore, they need to be empowered. 

 The sidewalk traders, as part of the economic informal sector, have been in 

existence in all the Indonesian cities in general, including in Denpasar City and West 

Denpasar Sub District in particular. As the main impact of the migration of people, they are 

recognized as a structural phenomenon which will always exist. On one side, their existence 

in West Denpasar Sub District, Denpasar City, has been considered not only to cause the 

city to look disorganized but has also been considered to be responsible for discomfort and 

to disturb public order. On the other side, they are human beings who have the right to have 

occupation and to live properly as stated in the 1945 Constitution. Trading is one of the 

activities they can do for a living. Actually, they have been made to exist by the system of 

the societal activities which has been in existence since a very long time ago. The 

community members have been accustomed to buying things made available by the 

sidewalk traders. They have been forced or have not been forced to live in the situation in 

which economy is not stable, even though they have been playing an important role in 



fulfilling what is needed by the consumers from all the layers of the community. Therefore, 

if their existence is well managed with proper management of empowerment, it is by all 

means that their lives will be better and that they will contribute to the original regional 

earnings.  

 The management of empowerment of the sidewalk traders in West Denpasar Sub 

District has been actually performed with reference to the Local Rules and Regulations 

(Perda) of Number 3 of Year 2000. However, the fact in the field shows that what has been 

achieved has been far from being adequate. It is based on this fact that a research was 

conducted with the problems formulated as follows: (1) how the management of 

empowerment had already been and was being performed by the government of West 

Denpasar Sub District?; (2) what responses were given by the community to the model of 

the management of empowerment performed by the government?; (3) what impacts and 

meanings were given by the management of empowerment of the sidewalk traders in West 

Denpasar Sub District? This study aims at identifying the model of the  management of 

empowerment  performed by the government, identifying the responses given by the 

community to such a model of the  management of empowerment and at identifying the 

impacts and meanings given by the model applied. The theory of postmodern, the theory of 

deconstruction, the theory of hegemony, the theory of responses and the theory of 

motivation and achievement were employed to answer the above mentioned problems. 

From the methodological aspect, the research is classified as a qualitative one. The 

technique of observation, the technique of interview, the technique of documentation and 

focus group discussion were employed to obtain the data needed. 

 

II. Discussion    

 The findings show that the  management of empowerment of the sidewalk traders in 

West Denpasar Sub District does not have any particular model yet. The implementation in 

the field refers to the Local Rules and Regulations (Perda) of Number 3 of Year 2000, 

which is modified from the Local Rules and Regulations of Number 15 of Year 1993. The 

Local Rules and Regulations of Number 3 of Year 2000 does not accommodate the interests 

of the government, the sidewalk traders and of the consumers as those who consume what 

is prepared by the sidewalk traders. This means that the governmental hegemony has taken 

place over the sidewalk traders. 

 If viewed from the theory of motivation of needs, the objective of what they do is to 

fulfill their primary needs such as food, clothing, shelter and education. In other words, 



what they do is to fulfill their physical needs. On the other hand, the governmental agencies 

under the government of West Denpasar Sub District perform their responsibilities based on 

the applicable rules and regulations. They work for the sake of achievement, position and 

promotion. What they want to achieve is work achievement, prestige, and promotion or 

power. Such differences in motivation have led to different justifications and blaming each 

other.  

 The sidewalk traders in West Denpasar Sub District have struggled so hard that they 

can survive even in a very critical condition. Based on the leadership characteristics, they 

may be classified as hard and highly-motivated workers. As a result, the leadership 

approach applied should be the participative leadership. It is in accordance with the 

postmodern theory, in which the leader should coordinate with those he/she lead, thereby 

those who are led feel that they are protected. They feel that what the leader does is for 

them. They have a sense of belonging and will be responsible for the success of the 

programs already formulated. It is this which has not been performed in West Denpasar, 

Denpasar City yet. The reason is that the applicable local rules and regulations have given 

authority to the traditional villages (desa pekraman, desa adat) and administrative villages 

to organize the sidewalk traders (Article 32 A of the Local Rules Regulations of Number 3 

of Year 2000, clause (1)). 

 It is necessary to deconstruct the Local Rules and Regulations of Number 3 of Year 

2000 for the reason that they have not accommodated all the interests. They have not 

referred to the higher rules and regulations either such as the 1945 Constitution, the Rules 

and Regulations of Number 39 of Year 1999 concerning human rights, and the Rules and 

Regulations of Number 9 of Year 1995 concerning small businesses. Their rights, as 

citizens, have been neglected and forgotten. It is clear that their rights have been included in 

the 1945 Constitution, the Rules and Regulations of Number 39 of Year 1999 and the Rules 

and Regulations of Number 09 of Year 1995. 

 The model of the management of empowerment of the sidewalk traders has been 

performed by the government through three ways such as: 1) the way in which the 

governmental agencies are indirectly involved; what is meant is that the governmental 

agencies are hierarchically involved, in which the governmental agencies in the levels of 

sub district, administrative villages and neighborhoods are the main doers; (2) the way in 

which the municipal and sub district governmental agencies are directly involved in 

supervising the sidewalk traders, especially those who sell their merchandise  along the 

main streets such as Diponogoro Street, Teuku Umar Street, Mahendradata Street, Gunung 



Agung Street and Imam Bonjol Street; (3) the way in which how to manage the sidewalk 

traders is the responsibility of the traditional villages (desa pakraman/adat).   

 From the managerial aspect point of view, how the sidewalk traders in West 

Denpasar are empowered does not have any particular management yet as the reference. It 

still refers to the governmental management, leading to an ambiguity between the 

governmental management and the management of empowerment of the sidewalk traders.  

The management of empowerment of the sidewalk traders in West Denpasar Sub District 

has not been sufficiently performed both vertically and horizontally (secondarily), which 

has been responsible for different interpretations among the related components. 

Furthermore, there has been less coordination among them. 

 The government, in this case, the government of West Denpasar Sub District, 

through its administrative villages, Community Empowerment Institutions (Lembaga 

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat) and traditional villages (desa pekraman/adat) has performed 

the management of empowerment of the sidewalk traders institutionally; however, in its 

implementation, an overlap has been found among the institutions. Having different 

references, this can be understood. Such an overlap would not occur if there were good 

coordination among the institutions. It is recognized that so far, on one side, the 

coordination has not been so good; on the other side, urgent actions need to be taken; 

otherwise, the existence of the sidewalk traders will be getting more problematic as a result 

of a higher current of migration.  The rapid development of Denpasar City has made it more 

interesting, which, then, has been responsible for the higher current of migration.  

 The sidewalk traders and consumers have not given any response to the 

management of empowerment. The reason is that it has not been sufficiently socialized yet 

or the extent to which it has been socialized has not fully achieved the target. The sidewalk 

traders and consumers have been made not responsive and have not been able to perform 

their activities as they like.  

 The uncertainty of the management of empowerment performed by the government 

has affected the societal social life such as in the forms of slum areas, disorganization, 

environmental problems, street kids and crimes. Economically, it has been responsible for 

the higher competition among the sidewalk traders. The reason is that more and more are 

coming. Furthermore, it is predicted that there are formal entrepreneurs who package their 

businesses through sidewalk traders. In addition, politically, the management of 

empowerment performed by the government and the traditional villages (desa 



pekraman/adat) refers to their own justifications. Moreover, there are some indicators that 

the sidewalk traders are protected by particular groups.  

 The actions taken by the governmental agencies in carrying out their responsibilities 

has resulted in solidarity among the sidewalk traders and between them and the consumers. 

The sidewalk traders have been satisfied with what they earn which has been better than 

what they earned when they lived where they originally come from. This is what is meant 

by well being. Psychologically, such a better well being has improved their prestige and 

trust in themselves.  

 

III. Closing  

 Based on what has been described above, as far as the management of 

empowerment of the sidewalk traders in West Denpasar Sub District is concerned, four 

findings can be found. The first finding is that the management of empowerment of the 

sidewalk traders in West Denpasar Sub District does not have any distinct form yet. The 

reason is that the Local Rules and Regulations of Number 3 of Year 2000 do not 

accommodate all the related interests. It turns out that, as the second finding, the model of 

the management of empowerment has been performed in three ways. The first is through 

the administrative villages, the second is directly performed and the third is through the 

traditional villages (desa pekraman/adat). However, such a model has not been completed 

with planning, organization, staffing, and proper direction and supervision. The third 

finding is that the management of empowerment of the sidewalk traders is negatively 

responded by the sidewalk traders themselves and the consumers. The fourth finding is that 

the failure of the management of empowerment of the sidewalk traders has social, 

economic and political effects and has the meanings of solidarity, well being and 

psychology.  

 Based on the above mentioned findings, a model of the management of 

empowerment of the sidewalk traders through coordination among themselves, strong 

entrepreneurs (private) and the government is recommended. The sidewalk traders are 

organized based their own business areas with a simple organization, in which the leaders 

are taken from themselves. The government is only the mediator in the formation of such an 

organization, while the initiatives are from the traders themselves. The assistance in the 

form of capital may be provided by private organizations (strong entrepreneurs and the 

government-owned companies) or the government itself through cooperatives and the 



organizations of the traders. The government may impose retributions on the traders in 

accordance with the policy implemented.  

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
 

 The writer would like to thank the Rector of Udayana University, Prof. Dr. dr. I 

Made Bakta, Sp.P.D. (K.) for the facilities and opportunity provided to attend the doctorate 

program at Udayana University. The writer would also like to highly appreciate the 

Director of the Postgraduate Program of Udayana University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Dewa Ngurah 

Suprapta, M.Sc. for the opportunity provided to be a student at the Doctorate Program of 

Udayana University. The writer would also like to extend his high appreciation to Head of 

the Doctorate Program of Cultural Studies of the Postgraduate Program of Udayana 

University, Prof. Dr. I Made Suastika, S.U., as the Promoter as well, for all the guidance, 

supervision and motivation provided so that this dissertation can be completed as expected.  

Many thanks also go to Prof. Dr. Emiliana Mariyah, M.S., and Prof. Dr. I Ketut Sudibia, 

S.E.,S.U., as Co-promoter I and Co-promoter II, for their real supervision so that this 

dissertation can be completed.  

 
 
 
 
 
 

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