Seafarers union elects new leader
JAKARTA (JP): The three-day extraordinary congress of the Indonesian Seamen's Association (KPI) concluded on Monday with the election of Hanafie as its new chairman for the 2001-2004 term, to replace Iskandar Illahude, whose leadership sparked protests among members of the International Transportation Federation (ITF).
Besides electing the union's other 16 new functionaries, the congress also reviewed its statute and designed new programs, in particular, training schemes to improve Indonesian seafarers' skills.
The union's amended statute asserts that KPI is a categorical trade union under the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation (FSPSI) and the term of the new executive board has been cut short from five years to three years, Matias Tambing, the elect secretary general, said
"From now on, KPI will enhance cooperation with FSPSI in conducting its programs," he said in the congress's closing ceremony.
Hanafie, elect chairman, said the new executive board would regroup to lead KPI to become an independent union.
"Besides establishing KPI units in all provinces, as well as overseas, we are preparing training schemes in cooperation with foreign partner unions and ITF to improve the quality of our seafarers," he said.
Shigeru Wada, secretary of ITF for the Asia-Pacific region, praised the democratic proceedings and pledged better cooperation with KPI in the future.
"The congress progressed democratically. There was no money politics nor intervention from outside. The congress is far more democratic than previous congresses in Medan, North Sumatra, and Malino, South Sulawesi," he said.
Shigeru said ITF was ready to forge cooperation with KPI to improve the quality of Indonesian seafarers and provide protection for those who were employed by international shipping companies.
"With the democratic congress and its new genuine functionaries, KPI is expected to grow as an independent union with its sole mission of improving its members' social welfare," he said.
ITF has previously threatened to suspend KPI's associate membership in the international labor union and rejected providing protection for some 32,000 Indonesian seafarers working in foreign shipping companies unless the local union holds a congress to elect new and independent activists.
The previous executive board had sparked criticism since Iskandar took charge in 1998. He is also the director of classification at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication. Many have accused him of misusing the union to function as a recruitment agency. (rms)