Government for independent seamen's association<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government, at the start of the
\nextraordinary congress of the Indonesian Seamen's Association
\n(KPI) on Saturday, threw its weight behind plans to make the
\nAssociation a truly independent union by withdrawing state
\nofficials from its board.<\/p>\n
Musni Tambusai, director-general for industrial relations and
\nlabor standards at the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration,
\nsaid at the opening of the three-day congress that government and
\nmilitary officials should no longer be allowed to lead unions.<\/p>\n
\"Democracy cannot develop in labor unions if they are led by
\ngovernment officials. If civil servants and servicemen want to
\nunionize they should join their existing organization,\" Musni
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The extraordinary congress was held following a threat by the
\nInternational Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) to suspend
\nKPI's membership in the international trade union if state
\nofficials and ex-servicemen still dominated the executive board.<\/p>\n
Such a move was also in compliance with the International
\nLabor Organization's (ILO) Convention on freedom of association.<\/p>\n
Tjuk Sukardiman, director-general of sea transportation at the
\nMinistry of Transportation and Telecommunications, said the
\ngovernment would accept whatever the outcome of the congress.<\/p>\n
\"The government wants the congress to elect new functionaries
\nfrom its members and not from government officials at the sea
\ntransportation directorate-general. And I guarantee the
\ngovernment will not intervene in the congress and the election of
\nnew leaders,\" he said.<\/p>\n
KPI is currently chaired by Iskandar Illahude, a senior
\nofficial at the Ministry of Transportation.<\/p>\n
Hanafie, deputy chairman of KPI's outgoing executive board,
\ncalled on the congress to discuss the prevalent corrupt practices
\nin the association over the last three years.<\/p>\n
\"The outgoing executive board must present an accountability
\nreport, especially a financial one, to the congress,\" he said,
\nadding that he was ready, if needed, to give testimony and
\nundergo an investigation on possible financial leakages over the
\nlast three years.<\/p>\n
Shigeru Wada, secretary of the ITF's Asia-Pacific Region,
\ndenied the accusation that ITF was intervening in KPI's internal
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
\"ITF has no intention of dictating to KPI but merely wants it
\nto be an independent union under the All-Indonesia Workers Union
\nFederation (FSPSI),\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Labour Union Confederation (Gaspermindo),
\nstaged a demonstration at the UN office on Friday, protesting the
\nITF's intervention in KPI.<\/p>\n
Wada further said that ITF has delayed suspending KPI's
\nassociate membership after gaining a guarantee from FSPSI that it
\nwould help solve the issue and reach an agreement with the
\noutgoing executive board on a total reform of the association.<\/p>\n
\"Later, we found the defunct executive board failed to comply
\nwith the agreement. And this congress is the last chance for KPI
\nto decide whether it will stay within the ITF structure,\" he
\nsaid. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-for-independent-seamens-association-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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