Workers Demand Improvements at Merauke Port TKBM
Workers are seen carrying out activities at the Cooperative for Loading and Unloading Labor (TKBM) at Merauke Port, South Papua, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
The laborers are calling for improvements in the wage system and cooperative management to ensure greater fairness and transparency. Issues regarding wages have been raised by the workers since 2018.
At that time, the workers protested what they considered to be extremely low wages. In 2028, a mass demonstration led the cooperative to increase the workers’ wages from IDR 700,000 to IDR 2.5 million. However, the new wage lasted only three months before being reduced back to IDR 700,000.
The workers hope for greater transparency in the management and wage system at the Merauke Port TKBM. They are also demanding stronger protections for workers' rights.
Pekerja Minta Perbaikan TKBM Pelabuhan Merauke
Tampak aktivitas para pekerja di Koperasi Tenaga Kerja Bongkar Muat (TKBM) Pelabuhan Merauke, Papua Selatan pada Rabu, 9 April 2025.
Para buruh meminta supaya sistem pengupahan dan manajemen koperasi diperbaiki supaya lebih adil dan transparan. Persoalan upah sudah dipersoalkan para pekerja sejak 2018
Pada kala itu para buruh sempat mempersoalkan gaji yang mereka nilai terlalu rendah. Pada 2028 sempat ada aksi massa sehingga pihak koperasi menaikkan upah buruh dari Rp 700 ribu menjadi Rp 2,5 juta. Namun, hal tersebut hanya berjalan tiga bulan. Setelah itu, upah kembali turun menjadi Rp 700 ribu.
Para pekerja berharap ada transparansi dalam pengelolaan dan sistem pengupahan di TKBM Pelabuhan Merauke. Mereka juga meminta ada perlindungan terhadap hak para pekerja.
