Drivers demand permanent status

JAKARTA: Around 80 truck drivers working for the Jakarta International Container Terminal at Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta, staged a rally at the City Council on Thursday to ask for support from the councillors for their demand that they be made permanent employees by PT Philia Mandiri Sejahtera (PMS).

They claimed that they have been working at the port since before the JICT appointed PT PMS in November 2003 to recruit the drivers as part-time employees.

"Unfortunately, the PMS directors have unilaterally decided to stop using our services without giving us any severance pay," said Ali, the leader of the drivers.

PMS spokesman Kosasih refused to comment on the demand during a hearing with Commission E on public welfare on Thursday.

Councillor Agus Dharmawan advised the JICT to meet the drivers' demand, citing that the company should not outsource driving services to other companies.

The JICT is owned jointly by Hong Kong-based port operator Hutchinson Port Holding and state port operator PT Pelindo II. --JP.