JICT labor union holds first congress

JAKARTA: Some 60 members of the workers union of PT Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT), which is responsible for the loading and unloading of containers at the Tanjung Priok Port, held a congress at the Raddin Hotel in Ancol, North Jakarta, on Saturday.

The congress was held to elect new members of the union's executive board, review its statutes and establish its vision and mission as well as programs.

Irma S. Chan, an organizing committee member for the congress, said it was the first congress held since the union was set up in July 1999. The union was established following the privatization of PT JICT, a move which sparked protests by workers.

In March 1999, Hong Kong-based Grosbeak Pte Ltd bought 51 percent of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) II, the parent company of PT JICT, for US$215 million. The sale was part of the Indonesian government's policy of privatizing state companies due to the monetary crisis.

Since 1999, the union has fought to improve the welfare of workers, resulting in, among other things, an increase in salaries and an improved pension fund.--JP