[030513.EN.BIZ] FAA Seeks To Fine UPS US$4 Million For Improper Plane Repairs

THE US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) seeks to impose a fine of US$4 million on United Parcel Service (UPS) for failing to maintain four cargo planes properly and flying them in a non-compliant state, reports Atlanta area Air Cargo World.

Atlanta-based UPS has 30 days from the receiving of the FAA's civil penalty letter to respond. Company spokesman Mike Mangeot said UPS will challenge the penalty, calling it "unwarranted and unreasonable".

The FAA said UPS failed to adhere to FAA-rules for making repairs on two DC-8s and two MD-11s and operated them. UPS operated the four planes on more than 400 flights between 2008 and 2009.

"These violations stem from UPS's failure to fully comply with the terms of a consent agreement in which the carrier agreed to inspect all aircraft in its fleet and compare actual repairs with maintenance records," the FAA said, adding that this would have confirmed UPS was in compliance.

"No aircraft should leave the ground until the operator has made all necessary repairs and made them according to the correct procedures," said FAA administrator Michael Huerta.

Said US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood: "The aviation industry knows that we take safety very seriously. Air carriers must comply with federal regulations to ensure aircraft are maintained to the highest level of safety."

Source : HKSG.

[030513.ID.BIZ] Proyek MRT: Pemprov DKI Soft Launching Besok

BISNIS.COM, JAKARTA—Pemerintah Provinsi DKI Jakarta memastikansoft launching Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) akan dilaksanakan besok, Kamis (2/5/2013) yang langsung dilakukan oleh Gubernur DKI Jakarta Joko Widodo.

Hal tersebut disampaikan oleh Wakil Gubernur DKI Jakarta Basuki Tjahja Purnama atau yang akrab dipanggil Ahok.

"Saya dengar begitu [soft launching MRT], tapi saya tidak ikut, cukup Gubernur yang kesana," ujarnya di Balaikota DKI Jakarta, Rabu (1/5/2013).

Kabar yang beredar soft launching akan diselenggarakan di Bundaran Hotel Indonesia.

Seperti diberitakan, pemenang tender pembangun MRT telah diputuskan dalam Rapat Umum Pemegang Saham (RUPS) pekan lalu. Namun PT MRT Jakarta sebagai pihak konsorsium pembangun belum bisa mengumumkan karena menunggu sanggahan.

Beberapa perusahaan yang mengikuti lelang di antaranya PT Wijaya Karya (Wika) dan PT Jaya Konstruksi. Kedua perusahaan ini mengajukan pengerjaan paket bawah tanah dari Jalan Sisingamangaraja sampai Bundaran HI.

Selain itu, ada perusahaan asal Jepang, yaitu Shimizu, Obayashi, Hutama Karya dan Sumitomo Mutsui Construction Company.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 01.05.13.

[020513.EN.SEA] Drewry Takes Positive View Of Port Prospects, Sees 4-6pc Growth Ahead

DREWRY Maritime Equity Research has taken a positive view on the global port sector due to improved outlook for a global economic recovery, and according to the latest forecasts, the container trade will grow 4.7 per cent this year and 5.7 per cent next reaching 684 million TEU by the end of next year.

The forecasts also show that port capacity is only expected to reach 994 million TEU by 2014 increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9 per cent since 2011, which will nudge average utilisation up to 69 per cent in 2014 from 67 per cent in 2011.

But there will be wide regional variations in utilisation levels with emerging regions such as the Far East and South East Asia registering much higher rates of 75 per cent next year, while muted demand in Western Europe will keep the euro average down to 57 per cent.

On an aggregated basis, Drewry expects the 12 ports under coverage to deliver 8.4 per cent growth in sales, 10.8 per cent growth in EBITDA and net income growth of 14.3 per cent in 2013.

Source : HKSG.

[020513.ID.BIZ] Penaikan UMR: Dipertimbangkan Berlaku 2 Tahun Sekali

BISNIS. COM,JAKARTA--Dalam Rancangan Peraturan Pemerintah mengenai Pengupahan, Kementerian Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi mempertimbangkan penetapan upah minimum regional (UMR) dilakukan setiap dua tahun sekali.

Direktur Pengupahan dan Jaminan Sosial Kementerian Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi Wahyu Widodo mengatakan penyusunan RPP Pengupahan masih dikaji intensif oleh internal kementerian. Salah satu poin yang akan diusulkan adalah penetapan upah setiap dua tahun sekali.

“Yang kita pertimbangkan itu dua tahun sekali, kalau industri minta kan tiga tahun sekali ya. Ini konsep masih dikaji terus,” kata Wahyu ketika dihubungi melalui telepon, Senin (29/4).

Wahyu berharap, dalam RPP Pengupahan ini, seluruh pemangku kepentingan, mulai dari pemerintah, pekerja dan pengusaha dapat terlibat secara keseluruhan. Menurutnya, dengan ditetapkannya setiap dua tahun sekali, hal ini bisa meminimalisisr terjadi aksi unjuk rasa yang sering terjadi.

“Dua tahun sekali tidak masalah bila ada perjanjian kerja bersama yang sudah disetujui,” lanjutnya. Namun sayang, Wahyu belum bisa mengatakannya secara detail lantaran RPP Pengupahan masih dalam kajian.

Penetapan upah minimum provinsi maupun kabupaten/kota selalu menjadi isu yang luas. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan pengaturan pengupahan yang lebih komprehensif. Faktor-faktor, seperti skala upah, produktivitas kerja, kesejahteraan pekerja, inflasi, dan usulan perubahan periodisasi penetapan upah minimum menjadi bagian yang akan dimasukkan dalam kajian isi RPP pengupahan ini. (if)

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 29.04.13.

[010513.EN.SEA] West Coast Dock Bosses See All-water Threat, Seek Labour Peace

FACED with the termination of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) contract on July 1 next year, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) have made labour peace its top priority as all-water routes divert cargo away from the west coast to US east coast ports.

The PMA annual report stressed intense competition from east coast ports as carriers deploy larger ships from Asia via the Suez and the Panama, bypassing the west coast which used to rail or truck the cargo east.

The employers highlight that dockers earn US$132,946 a year for a 40-hour work week, up from $125,461 a year in 2007. Total payroll last year came to $1.5 billion, 50 per cent more than in 2002.

"Our focus must be on enhancing the ports' long-term competitiveness. That's the best way to protect jobs and economic growth in the regions where we do business," said the PMA annual report.

"It is essential that we work smartly, and well, to prepare ourselves for the changes coming in the years ahead," said PMA chief executive James McKenna in the PMA annual report.

Yet modernisation of cargo-handling operations is also on the agenda, always a sore point with dockers who stand to lose jobs as labour saving devices save the cost of employing labourers.

But the PMA feels that technology, modernisation and jurisdiction, issues that stymied a quick agreement on the US east coast, were largely resolved on the west coast in the contract negotiations of 2002 and 2008.

"The PMA said implementation of technology and automation have resulted in increased cargo-handling productivity, yet longshoremen also benefited in terms of higher wages and increased work opportunities," the report said.

The PMA also recalled the week-long strike in Los Angeles and Long Beach by the 600-member ILWU clerical local, which worsened when dockers refused to cross clerical picket lines.

They also reminded stakeholders that 2012 cargo volume was only slightly up on 2011, with laden containers increasing 1.3 per cent.

Source : HKSG.

[010513.ID.BIZ] Jakarta - Salut Untuk Unjuk Rasa Buruh Hari Ini.

Tak ada aksi anarkistis dan kekerasan yang terjadi. Sekitar 71 ribu buruh yang menyemut di Jakarta, tertib menyampaikan aspirasinya.

Para buruh yang berunjuk rasa sejak pukul 09.00 WIB, Rabu (1/5/2013) dalam rangka memperingati Hari Buruh benar-benar patut diacungi jempol. Aksi mereka di Jakarta, mulai dari kawasan Sudirman, Bundaran HI, Thamrin, hingga Istana Negara berjalan lancar.

Para buruh menyuarakan aspirasi menolak outsourcing, menolak upah murah, menuntut peningkatan kesejahteraan, dan menolak kenaikan BBM. Mereka bergerak serentak dari berbagai organisasi, buruh bersatu menyuarakan aspirasi.

Berpusat di Istana Negara, para buruh berteriak meminta keadilan untuk mereka. Aksi berjalan damai, para buruh bersatu untuk satu tujuan bersama. Tanpa anarkisme.

Tak ada juga aksi blokir tol yang mengganggu kepentingan masyarakat luas. Aksi buruh yang berduyun-duyun dengan berbagai angkutan memang menyebabkan macet, tapi bisa dimaklumi, ketika aspirasi berjalan tertib.

"Saya sampaikan, hari ini dan hari kemarin di May Day kami sengaja turun dan berjalan berkilo-kilometer kami datang dari pelosok pabrik, hanya satu tujuan yaitu melawan rasa ketidakadilan," kata Presiden Konfederasi Serikat Pekerja Indonesia (KSPI) Said Iqbal.

Suara Iqbal mungkin mewakili suara buruh lainnya. Seperti suara Edi, buruh di Bekasi yang datang ke Istana berharap perbaikan nasibnya. Edi ingin dirinya serta seluruh kaum buruh bekerja dengan nyaman dan mendapatkan kesejahteraan.

"Gaji saya sudah sesuai UMR karena sudah jadi karyawan tetap, tapi di perusahaan masih banyak yang outsourcing, banyak yang gajinya di bawah UMR," ungkap Edi.

Perjuangan kaum buruh yang tak anarkis memang luar biasa. Tapi yang utama, pemenuhan tuntutan mereka juga harus diprioritaskan. Selamat hari buruh!

Sumber : detik, 01.05.13.

[300413.EN.SEA] European Forwarders Remain Confident After Posting 5pc Upturn

IMPROVEMENTS are expected to continue for Europe's forwarders after a five per cent improved month-to-month performance in March, according to the Danske Bank European Freight Forwarding Index.

The market increased from 47 in February to 52 in March indicating a minor increase in volumes for sea, road and air with expectations for the next two months to see much the same.

Freight forwarding companies are asked for predictions of volumes to be stronger in the next two months for one index, the other asks if volumes are stronger now than two months ago.

Air freight suffered a slight decline in March from February but rallied to 53 over December and January. Sea freight fared better in March at 52 up from 45 in February while road freight hit 50, up from 47.

The UK showed positive increases in the European freight forwarder sector from 50 in February to 68 in March. Germany forwarders' continued to experience weak demand at 33 in March, although up on February's 25. It was still above other countries outside of the Benelux region that contracted significantly from 64 in February to 14 in March.

Source : HKSG.