Beef distributors in Greater Jakarta are currently staging a strike. They’re responding to the double digit meat inflation that’s hitting vendors and consumers alike. The strike, which commenced on January 23, 2026, at 16:00 JST, has led to the closure of all stalls at a traditional market in central Jakarta, leaving only the butchers selling beef amidst the ongoing protest.
During the last month, surging beef prices have been blamed on a perfect storm. A major factor too has been the plunging value of the Indonesian Rupiah feeding through in increased cost of imports. Yet the government took extreme measures to cut import quotas for private traders, a move that incited protests earlier this year. Without such communication, beef supply shortages began to develop. These cuts have just about eliminated the availability of lower priced beef from the marketplace. Consequently, prices have shot up, which can be untenable for many prospective sellers.
With the strike ongoing, beef vendors took to the streets to voice their anger against government’s policies that they say contributed to worsening the crisis. As the price of meat continues to skyrocket, relief is desperately needed and people are urging the federal government to act before it’s too late. The protest highlights both the significance of local black vendors and the price fluctuation that destroys the ability for local vendors to survive on consistent sales.
Photographer Natsumi Kawasaki joined us to document this vibrant market. Her photos point out the jarring difference from the typical busy scene to what is becoming a regular sight due to the strike, closures. These aren’t dreamers, these are doers – these sellers are making it happen. They are highly interested investors, very worried about the economic climate that threatens their business and consumer’s purchasing power.