A nation-wide strike by port workers could cripple operations at Indonesian ports from Tuesday onwards.
Workers at Indonesia's state-owned port operator have threatened to strike if the government passes a bill to end the operator's monopoly on running 112 ports across Indonesia.
“We reject the government's bill to end PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo)'s exclusive right to operate ports,” said Sudjarwo, Indonesian Port and Dredging Worker Union (SPPI) chairman.
“The bill, if passed, will likely result in Pelindo workers losing their jobs,” said Sudjarwo, who said that Pelindo workers at all 112 ports will go on strike if the bill is passed.
Indonesia's parliament will decide on the bill on Tuesday, according to Dow Jones Newswires, which also reported demonstrations by port workers outside parliament last Friday to protest the bill.
According to Indonesia's Transportation Ministry, the bill aims to make the ports industry more competitive.
Union leader Sudjarwo, however, protested that the SPPI was not consulted during discussions for the bill's provisions.
SPPI has been “left with little choice but to go on strike since there has been no effort on the government's part to include our suggestions on how the bill should be enacted,” he said.
Workers at Indonesia's state-owned port operator have threatened to strike if the government passes a bill to end the operator's monopoly on running 112 ports across Indonesia.
“We reject the government's bill to end PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo)'s exclusive right to operate ports,” said Sudjarwo, Indonesian Port and Dredging Worker Union (SPPI) chairman.
“The bill, if passed, will likely result in Pelindo workers losing their jobs,” said Sudjarwo, who said that Pelindo workers at all 112 ports will go on strike if the bill is passed.
Indonesia's parliament will decide on the bill on Tuesday, according to Dow Jones Newswires, which also reported demonstrations by port workers outside parliament last Friday to protest the bill.
According to Indonesia's Transportation Ministry, the bill aims to make the ports industry more competitive.
Union leader Sudjarwo, however, protested that the SPPI was not consulted during discussions for the bill's provisions.
SPPI has been “left with little choice but to go on strike since there has been no effort on the government's part to include our suggestions on how the bill should be enacted,” he said.