PPD bus drivers demand better working climate

PPD bus drivers demand better working climate

JAKARTA (JP): Twenty-two people representing more than 12,000 employees, mostly drivers, of the state-owned bus company PPD went to the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) on Saturday seeking help over their uncertain status and poor working conditions.

The people, who came from 14 bus pools in the city, told the local head of the union, En Jacob Ereste, that as workers for state-owned company they were registered as members of the civil servant corps (KORPRI). "But we have never received any of the facilities usually made available for the corps members," said Iwan Raharjo Ginting, the spokesman for the complainants.

Because they are considered members of the corps the workers are prohibited from establishing a union. They said this makes it impossible for them to defend their rights, and that the corps has never favored them in any disputes with the management. He said they had complained to the PPD management and the Ministry of Transportation in vain.

"This uncertain position has prevented us from fighting for better working conditions," Ginting said.

Most of the PPD workers have been working for the bus company for 20 years. And all during that period they have been trapped in the poor working conditions that keep them living in poverty, Iwan said.

Yesterday, the workers submitted a letter of complaint to the union, copies of which were sent to the management, the House of Representatives, the ministries of transportation and manpower, Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, and the National Commission on Human Rights.

In the letter signed by the head of the union's transportation sector, R. Damanik, the workers revealed how the company imposes unclear job assignments and insufficient allowances on them.

Drivers have forced to get side jobs to pay medical expenses for themselves and their families. "The workers deserve better reimbursement rates for medical care. But they get only between 30 percent and 50 percent of their total medical expenses back. And they have to wait a long time for that," Damanik said.

Unclear job assignments have led many drivers just hanging around the bus pools every day, he said.

Damanik also said the management never pays any attention to the workers' educational background and working period in relation to a pay scale. There is no clear standard in payment for senior and junior staffers.

"If we are grouped as civil servants, then there should be a gradual change in our status from one level to another," he said. In fact, drivers with 15 to 20 years working experience are improperly treated, he added.

The drivers also complained on Saturday about the fees they have pay to some of the company's staff members and security officers on the road, as well as fines paid to police patrols.

The complainants said they plan to march to the House of Representatives to seek help, but did not indicate when. (03)