WORKERS at Indonesia’s sole state-owned port operator Pelindo may begin an open-ended strike today to try and scupper a bill to end the company’s monopoly, potentially disrupting trade from Southeast Asia’s largest economy.

Union representatives discussed Monday late additions to a maritime bill submitted by a lawmakers’ task force, said Hendra Budi, secretary-general of Pelindo workers’ union. “I can’t say whether we will go ahead” with the strike, he said.

The potential stoppage could affect 112 ports across the world’s largest archipelago, including Java’s Tanjung Priok, the main port near Jakarta, the capital. Indonesia exports palm oil, cocoa and coffee to world markets.

“If the strike goes on, and it goes on for long, that will hurt exporters,” said Asril Sutan Amir, vice chairman for marketing and international affairs of Indonesia’s Rubber Association. “We hope they’ll consider canceling the strike.”

Secretary-General Budi said a workers’ rally planned for Monday had been called off amid the talks over the latest revisions to the bill. The Indonesian parliament is scheduled to meet today for a full session of lawmakers to pass the legislation.

“The proposed law is to improve the country’s infrastructure by allowing companies to set up ports, forcing efficiency with competition,” said Bambang Erfan, a spokesman at the transport ministry.

The new law would separate the role of regulator from operator and allow more companies to build and operate ports in Indonesia, Erfan said.

Contingency Plans

THE ministry had contacted port administrators to ask them to prepare contingency plans in case of a strike, including preparations for guiding ships into and out of ports, he said. Piloting vessels is a Pelindo monopoly at present.

Port workers at four state companies—PT Pelabuhan Indonesia I, II, III and IV—may halt work tomorrow to demand members of the House of Representatives reject the bill, according to an April 4 statement from the union. Pelindo companies also operate Sumatra’s Belawan port, Java’s Tanjung Perak port and Sulawesi’s Makassar.

Some Pelindo workers were concerned that their companies’ assets may be transferred to a new regulatory body, and that their companies will be put on sale, the ministry’s Erfan said.

“There will be a clearer separation between state assets and companies’ assets,” Erfan said. “It doesn’t say all Pelindo’s assets will be confiscated.” (Bloomberg)

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WORKERS at Indonesia’s sole state-owned port operator Pelindo may begin an open-ended strike today to try and scupper a bill to end the company’s monopoly, potentially disrupting trade from Southeast Asia’s largest economy.