No time off for stevedores during Idul Fitri holiday

JAKARTA (JP): Stevedores at Tanjung Priok port will have to work during the Idul Fitri holiday to keep container handling activities moving at a normal pace, an official said yesterday.

President of the state-owned port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II, A. Harbani, said stevedores would only get between two to three hours off on the first day of Lebaran for Idul Fitri prayers.

Idul Fitri falls on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10.

"They have to keep working because we have to continue the loading and unloading services for clients, most of whom are foreign shipping companies. They do not want the handling of their containers delayed even for two days," Harbani said at a meeting with Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief who visited the port yesterday.

Responding to the Minister's call for companies to pay Idul Fitri bonuses on time, Harbani said all stevedores had received their bonuses last week.

Rohman, a stevedore at Priok for about 10 years, told The Jakarta Post he had received his Idul Fitri allowance of Rp 32,000 (US$13.30).

"I have to spend it carefully as it is the only extra money I have for my family," said Rohman, who gets an average daily wage of Rp 6,000.

Harbani said there were 4,757 stevedores out of the 29,518 employees at the port.

Stevedores, paid between Rp 9,700 and Rp 12,375 a day, are entitled to compensation in the event of accident or death. They also have health insurance and are entitled to pensions.

Harbani said that to ensure the workers' safety, stevedores were equipped with gloves, masks, helmet and working suits.

"We will continue to improve the quality of our stevedores to boost services," he added.

Minister Latief yesterday called on PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II to improve the quality of its workers to prepare for tight competition from neighboring countries.

Latief said the port operator could use the Ministry's training center to educate stevedores, including those who are illiterate. Harbani said more than 3,800 stevedores were illiterate and some were ex-hoodlums.

Touching on the harbor's preparation for the influx of passengers leaving Jakarta for the Lebaran holidays, Harbani said the port had added facilities.

"For the passenger terminal, we have set up tents and extra public facilities such as toilets and telephone booths, parking lots and canteens," he said.

Harbani said the company had made an agreement with some taxi and bus companies, including the state-owned bus companies Damri and PPD, and private ones like Ismo and Sedyo Mulyo.

"All passengers who arrive here from other islands and want to continue to East and Central Java can continue their journeys right from the port, instead of going to bus stations in Pulogadung," he said.

The harbor also handles the shipping of basic commodities such as rice, sugar and livestock. Seven ships are ready to carry rice to and from Jakarta. Five are ready to carry sugar, and another 21, livestock. (04)