Maritime training for RI seamen<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Seafarers Association (KPI)
\nsigned a memorandum of understanding on vocational training with
\nseveral maritime academies and oil company Pertamina on Saturday
\nto improve the quality of Indonesian seamen both at home and
\noverseas.<\/p>\n
With the MOU, KPI, the maritime academies and Pertamina's
\nvocational training center will cooperate to provide training for
\nseamen and job seekers to be recruited by local and foreign
\nshipping companies.<\/p>\n
Rev. Charles P. Edwards B., chairman of the Bina Bahtera Karya
\nMandiri foundation that runs a maritime academy in Cilacap,
\nCentral Java, said the college produced some 100 graduates
\nannually but most of them were still unemployed because they had
\nno access to work in local and foreign shipping companies.<\/p>\n
\"Most of graduates of our academy have the maritime skills but
\nonly few of them were able to get employment after paying a large
\nsum of money to recruiting agencies,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Some, who were employed in foreign shipping companies paid
\nmore than Rp 40 million (US$4,211) each to recruiting agencies
\nthat enabled them to get the job.\"<\/p>\n
Charles, a Catholic priest in Cilacap, said that with the MOU,
\nhis foundation would cooperate with KPI to recruit the academy's
\ngraduates to work in local and foreign shipping companies.<\/p>\n
S. Sharma, representative of the International Transportation
\nFederation (ITF) in Indonesia, appreciated the MOU as an attempt
\nto improve the quality of Indonesian seafarers.<\/p>\n
He said ITF had been active to provide protection for
\nIndonesian seamen and to give recommendations to numerous
\ndeveloped countries to recruit Indonesian workers in their
\nshipping companies.<\/p>\n
Hanafie, chairman of KPI, a trade union under the Federation
\nof All-Indonesian Workers Union (FSPSI), said the agreement was
\nmuch needed to improve the quality of Indonesian seafarers.<\/p>\n
\"The number of Indonesian seafarers has reached more than
\n870,000, but 70 percent of them have no appropriate skills and,
\ntherefore, they are underpaid,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He noted that many shipping companies required skilled
\nwielders, painters, crew and captains but Indonesia could not
\nmeet the requirements due to the lack of skilled workers.<\/p>\n
Much. Achmad, director of Pertamina's training center for ship
\ncrews, said Pertamina also lacked skilled workers to be employed
\nas crew members, wielders and painters on its tankers. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maritime-training-for-ri-seamen-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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