NEGARA ~ Small traders who have stalls in front of Jembrana Public Hospital in Negara have complained that competition from self-service supermarkets is threatening their livelihoods.

Dozens of traders have formed a cooperative to fight for their rights to business, arguing that bigger shops make it impossible for small businesses to survive.

The primary target of the newly formed Forum Small Traders Bale Agung is the Indomaret supermarket, which they accuse of unfair trading practices.

It staged a public meeting on Monday attended by Jembrana legislators Nyoman Suheng Kusumayasa and Putu Budi Winhantara.

Indomaret’s management office is in East Java. The small traders claim the Negara supermarket has not received permission to trade.