No more illegal fares, says port

Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Port workers, operators and users declared on Friday that they would unite in an effort to eliminate all manner of illegal fees charged at the country's biggest seaport, Tanjung Priok.

They signed a declaration committing themselves to commencing "an anti-illegal port fees movement" during a ceremony at the Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT).

The movement was initiated by the Indonesia Port Workers Alliance (APPI).

APPI president Hanneman Suria said port workers were very concerned about the rampant charging of illegal fees at Tanjung Priok as this affected them as well.

Rather than waiting for the government to clean up the port, which seemed a remote alternative, Hanneman said port workers wanted to start doing so themselves.

"We recognize that eliminating these fees will be hard as most are usually disguised as tokens of appreciation. Moreover, workers will still be tempted to charge users fees as long as their take-home pay remains low," Hanneman said.

Therefore, he hoped the movement would get more support from other stakeholders.

Also signing the declaration were five labor unions at Tanjung Priok: the JICT Labor Union, Koja Container Terminal (TPK Koja) Labor Union, Indonesia Seamen's Union (KPI), Indonesian Seafarers Union (SPMI) and the National Transportation Workers Union (SBTN).

According to Hanneman, the five unions represented 90 percent of the total 45,000 workers employed at Tanjung Priok port.

Aside from the labor unions, other stakeholders that signed the declaration included the Indonesian National Shipper's Council (INSC), state port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) II, Tanjung Priok Administration Office, port operators JICT and TPK Koja, and the customs service.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by legislator Sabri Saiman, Effendi Batubara, an expert advisor to the Minister of Transportation, and the Ministry's Director of Maritime Traffic and Transportation, Jimmy Nikijuluw.

Separately, INSC deputy chairman Toto Dirgantoro said that he was surprised to see such an initiative coming "from below" and hoped top executives and officials would support and play active roles in the movement.

Toto added that he had urged all associations in the private sector to stop allocating funds for or paying any kinds of illegal fees in the country's ports.

Meanwhile, Pelindo II president director Abdullah Syaifuddin said that the worker's initiative was in line with the government's effort to eliminate the factors in the port that contributed to a high cost economy.

"A meeting involving all stakeholders recently revealed the various illegal practices in our ports. Frankly, it was like receiving a slap on the face, as the operator. But now, we have committed ourselves to eliminating such practices," he said.

House of Representatives Commission V member Sabri Saiman was rather skeptical, however, saying that the movement was not the first of its kind to be initiated in the country.

"Similar efforts were made years ago. Let's hope that this one will be sustainable and not disappear as quickly," Sabri said, adding that the House would help to seek a way in which the incomes of workers could be improved.

A recent survey by the Indonesian Textile Association (API) shows that Indonesia lost $715.79 million last year because of inefficiencies, including illegal fees.

In response, the government formed a special team last month to inquire into the country's ports and eliminate high costs in them.

The team, which consists of representatives from the port regulator, operators and users, as well as law enforcement agencies, submitted a report to the government.

The government then asked the team to refine its recommendations, which will be used as a basis for drawing up regulations to reduce costs in ports and thus increase the country's competitiveness.