Seaport workers in demonstration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More than 500 workers of PT Maju Terus Jaya, a
\ncontainer company at Tanjung Priok seaport, North Jakarta, staged
\na strike demonstration early on Monday in the grounds of the
\nHouse of Representatives, demanding immediate solutions to labor
\ndisputes and a thorough investigation into human rights abuses in
\nthe company.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators, from Indonesian Solidarity for Workers of
\nSeaport Transportation (SBTPI), parked 16 container vehicles
\nalong Jl. Gatot Subroto to attract public attention, causing a
\nheavy traffic jam along the highway between the Semanggi
\ncloverleaf and the Slipi flyover.<\/p>\n
While sitting on top of the container vehicles, demonstrators
\nshouted about the unsatisfactory labor conditions and physical
\nabuse of workers in the company.<\/p>\n
Mangaldi Aritonang, coordinator of the demonstrators, said
\nthey wanted to meet with the House leadership at the presence of
\nthe company's management and Minister of Manpower and
\nTransmigration Jacob Nua Wea to seek a fair solution to labor
\ndisputes and human rights abuses in the company.<\/p>\n
He said the dispute between the workers and the management had
\noccurred because of the company's failure to pay the monthly
\nminimum wage, violations of social security law and the frequent
\nphysical abuse of workers in the company.<\/p>\n
\"A majority of the 1,200 workers, who are employed as
\ncontainer drivers and porters, are paid only around Rp 200,000
\nper month and are not included in the social security program
\n(Jamsostek). Several workers who have militantly fought for fair
\npayment in line with the minimum wage have been physically abused
\nby soldiers from the Army,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mangaldi said the workers and the management had on three
\noccasions negotiated on the disputes but Lukman Sutjipto,
\npresident of the company, had turned down their demands because
\nthey were not considered to be (formal) workers.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators also threatened to blockade all routes to
\nthe seaport through major strikes in a few days time if the House
\nand the government failed to pay serious attention to their
\ndisputes with the management.<\/p>\n
\"We will stage a major strike to terminate all activities in
\nthe seaport if the government and the House do not pay attention
\nto the exploitation of labor and torture of workers in their
\nworkplace,\" said Mangaldi.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a member of staff of the company, contacted via
\ntelephone, declined to comment on the workers' demands, saying
\nthe company's president was not available at his office.<\/p>\n
\"Sorry, I cannot comment on the dispute and unfortunately, the
\nbig boss is not available,\" said the member of staff, who
\ndeclined to identify himself. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/seaport-workers-in-demonstration-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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