Women workers urged to unionize

The Jakarta Post Jakarta

Indonesian women employed in the transport and tourism field should form their own union to put an end to widespread gender discrimination in the workplace, an activist said.

The head of the Indonesian Sailor's Association (KPI), Hanafi Rustandi, said, as quoted by Antara on Saturday, that demands raised by women workers were often overlooked in Indonesia, in contrast to those made by their male counterparts.

"There are some industries that fire women workers just because they get pregnant. It's inhumane," Hanafi told a seminar on women and labor unions, which was jointly held here on Saturday by KPI and the London-based International Transport Workers Federation (ITF).

"Their association in a labor union will strengthen their bargaining power in negotiations with employers."

Hanafi added that some women's demands and issues were neglected by Indonesian sectors such as the demand for menstrual leave and equal pay, as many women do the same jobs and same work hours as men.

He said that there were thousands of competent women sailors in Indonesia who remained jobless due to, among other reasons, the gender-biased fishing industry, which routinely refuses to take women onboard.

Due to the fact that gender-biased treatment occurs worldwide, Hanafi suggested that Indonesian women workers join an international movement against discrimination in the workplace.

He also warned of woman workers of certain organizations who claim to defend women's rights but turn out to exploit the gender issue for the sake of their own interests.

ITF comprises more than 160 organizations representing land, sea and air transport workers around the world, including KPI.