No time off for stevedores during Idul Fitri holiday

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)