500 Multipolar employees seeking compensation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More than 500 employees of private retail
\ncompany PT Multipolar Perkasa visited the Jakarta Legal Aid
\nInstitute yesterday to seek legal advise over their employment
\nstatus.<\/p>\n
They demanded that the company, which operates Wal-Mart stores
\nin Pluit, North Jakarta, and Karawaci, Tangerang, give them
\nseverance pay in line with government regulations on the
\ndismissal of workers.<\/p>\n
The employees' spokeswoman Rika S. Miranti said that 1,600
\nemployees had lost their jobs after the company closed both
\nstores following massive riots on May 14.<\/p>\n
Wal-Mart in Karawaci was damaged but the outlet located in
\nMega Mall Pluit was left unscathed by the looting mobs.<\/p>\n
\"We've asked the company to clarify our status and give us the
\nappropriate severance pay if it intends to dismiss us,\" Rika
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She said employees' representatives had tried without success
\nto arrange a meeting with company executives.<\/p>\n
In an earlier informal meeting, company executive Agus
\nMardiyanto urged employees to resign due to the bad performance
\nof the company, she said.<\/p>\n
She explained that employees had threatened to hold a big
\ndemonstration at the company's head office at Gedung Menara
\nMatahari, Karawaci, tomorrow to demand that company president
\nJefry Wongsono clarify their status.<\/p>\n
Dozens of suppliers also visited the institute's office
\nyesterday to seek help in reclaiming debts totaling Rp 16 billion
\nowed to them by the giant retailer.<\/p>\n
Susan, who used to deal with Wal-Mart, said the company had
\nstopped paying its suppliers last November on the grounds that it
\nwas involved in a dispute with Wal-Mart Inc. of the United
\nStates.<\/p>\n
\"We don't care about the dispute. We want payment. Most of us
\nare just small-scale suppliers,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The suppliers said they would join the employees' planned
\ndemonstration.<\/p>\n
Multipolar, a subsidiary of the Lippo Group, is suing Wal-Mart
\nand its expatriate executives for losses worth US$98.8 million
\nwhich were allegedly caused by improper business conduct.<\/p>\n
The plaintiff alleges that Wal-Mart mismanaged a joint venture
\nto open two Wal-Mart stores in Indonesia, manipulated data and
\nissued misleading budgets.<\/p>\n
Wal-Mart has in turn accused Multipolar of violating their
\nagreement by purchasing shares in PT Matahari Putra Prima, a
\nrival retailer. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/500-multipolar-employees-seeking-compensation-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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