Drivers demand permanent status

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.