Coordinating Minister AHY Defends Truck Drivers In ODOL Issues: They Are Victims, Not Perpetrators
JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Development (Menko IPK) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) emphasized that truck drivers must receive attention and protection in implementing the Over Dimension and Over Loading (ODOL) handling policy.
AHY made this statement when he opened the ODOL Handling Coordination Meeting in Jakarta, Thursday, July 17.
AHY highlighted the fact that drivers are often the party to blame when an accident occurs, even though they are only carrying out their duties in the midst of pressure and limitations.
"We have to side with the drivers," AHY said as quoted by Antara.
According to him, many drivers are forced to drive trucks loaded with excess to support their families, even though they are aware of the high safety risks.
"It's known to be dangerous, but they have no choice. Because for them, this is a halal income," he said.
AHY assessed that the low level of welfare of truck drivers was at the root of the issue of ODOL violations. Therefore, he emphasized the importance of policies that regulate the improvement of driver welfare as part of the solution.
Not only that, he also touched on the problem of illegal levies (extortion) that often occur in the freight transportation ecosystem. AHY said that this practice has become a common secret that harms logistics actors, especially drivers.
"We have to take more decisive steps and also not selective," he said.
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A number of concrete steps will be formulated through a draft presidential regulation (Perpres) on strengthening national logistics.
Dalam Perpres itu, pemerintah akan menyusun rencana aksi nasional, di antaranya, Penguatan aspek ketenagakerjaan dan pengawasan kendaraan transport barang, Deregulasi sektor logistik, Integrasi data transport barang., Penetapan dan pengaturan class jalan, Peningkatan daya saing distribusi logistik, Penyediakan insentif dan disinsentif, Kajian dampak penerapan kebijakan Zero ODOL dan Pembentukan komite kerja percepatan konektivitas nasional.