10,000 workers plan massive strike for wage increase<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More than 10,000 workers from 14 companies in
\nGreater Jakarta are to strike until the government meets their
\ndemand for a 100-percent rise in the regional minimum wage, their
\nspokesman said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by dozens of followers who claimed to be workers
\nfrom companies based in and around the capital, Lukman told media
\nat the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute office that thousands of his
\ncolleagues from at least six companies in Tangerang, Bekasi and
\nNorth Jakarta already held their first rally yesterday.<\/p>\n
The companies whose workers went on strike yesterday were
\nhousehold producer PT Ganda Guna Indonesia in Tangerang, food
\nproducing firm PT Mayora in Tangerang, electronics component
\nproducer PT Singamip Jaya Electronic Enterprise in Cibinong,
\ncotton bud producer PT Kapasindo Prima in North Jakarta, photo
\nalbum producer PT Tomy Modern Industri in North Jakarta, and
\npenmaker PT Zebra Asaba Industri in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Thousands of others from two footwear manufacturers, PT Trio
\nPutra Sanjaya Wisesa and PT Osaga Mas Utama, and household goods
\nproducer PT Golden Swallow, all in North Jakarta will join the
\nstrike in the coming days, said Lukman, a former worker at a
\ngarment factory in the Central Java capital of Semarang.<\/p>\n
\"The strike is just like an exercise for us to achieve our
\ndemands. So we haven't yet decided when we will call the strike
\noff,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The workers, grouped in a union called Komite Buruh untuk Aksi
\nReformasi (Labor Committee for Reform Action), or Kobar, wanted
\nthe government to double the daily minimum wage in Greater
\nJakarta from Rp 5,750 to Rp 11,500, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The government's plan to increase the minimum wage by 15
\npercent is not enough for us since the sharp increases in prices
\nof essential commodities in the market,\" Lukman said.<\/p>\n
The workers also demanded an end to military intervention in
\nlabor disputes and rallies.<\/p>\n
Ministry<\/p>\n
A day earlier, some 1,000 Kobar members staged a noisy protest
\nat the manpower ministry to press similar demands.<\/p>\n
\"With the government-planned 15 percent rise, how can workers
\nmeet their basic needs?\" said protest coordinator Herry. \"As the
\nU.S. dollar has been appreciating dramatically against the
\nrupiah, many expert-oriented businesses have made a huge profit.\"<\/p>\n
The workers from Jakarta, Bekasi, Bogor and Tangerang unfurled
\nbanners, sang satirical songs and chanted slogans under the
\nwatchful eyes of dozens of security personnel in green uniforms.<\/p>\n
The ministry's secretary-general Suwarto told the protesters'
\nrepresentatives that he was personally not satisfied with the 15
\npercent pay hike either.<\/p>\n
\"I will refer your demand to the minister and meanwhile you
\nmay continue the protest peacefully,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The workers also demanded the government release labor
\nactivist Dita Sari who is imprisoned in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
According to Lukman, Kobar is not part of the Indonesian
\nProsperous Labor Union led by Muchtar Pakpahan.<\/p>\n
\"We will set up our own labor union in the near future. We
\nview that having more labor unions will be better for workers,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said Kobar was set up with help of students from the
\nUniversity of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
On June 24, Kobar workers were unable to stage their planned
\nmassive demonstration at the University of Indonesia campus in
\nSalemba, Central Jakarta due to the presence of hundreds of
\nsoldiers. (jun\/pan)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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