8,000 workers strike for meal allowance and wage increase<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some 8,000 workers of a shoe factory in Serang,
\nWest Java, went on strike yesterday, demanding that their meal
\nallowance be increased from the current sum of Rp 800 (37 US
\ncents).<\/p>\n
"Out of that amount, we still have to pay a Rp 140 fee to the
\ncaterers. How can we get three, nutritious meals a day with the
\nRp 660 that is left?" asked one of the striking workers of PT
\nNikomas Gemilang.<\/p>\n
The workers described how they still had to take overtime, as
\nlate as 10 o'clock at night and as often as 150 hours per month,
\nwith nothing to fuel them but low-quality meals.<\/p>\n
The official maximum overtime is 56 hours per month.<\/p>\n
The Antara news agency reported that the workers also demanded
\nan increase of their daily wages, from Rp 2,600 (US$ 1.2) to the
\nofficially-set standard of Rp 3,600.<\/p>\n
They also demanded that the company pay overtime compensation
\nin accordance with government regulations, allow female workers
\nto exercise their right for two days leave monthly, and improve
\noperations at the company's local branch of the All Indonesian
\nWorkers Union (SPSI).<\/p>\n
The workers yesterday also used the occasion yesterday to
\npress the company to fire, or "send home", foreign workers whom
\nthey alleged have been treating them badly. "We call on the
\nauthorities to pay serious attention to our conditions and
\ndemands," the workers said in a statement.<\/p>\n
So far, the company's response has not been favorable. A
\nmanager admonished the workers for "holding an illegal strike"
\nbecause it was not organized by the company's unit of SPSI.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Serang regency's office of SPSI Abdul Hanan,
\nand chairman of the company's SPSI unit Rachmat Suryadi admitted
\nthat the workers failed to inform their offices about the strike.
\nHowever, they promised that they would help the workers in
\npressing for their demands.<\/p>\n
"We'll fight for them," the two union leaders said during the
\nbreak of a discussion session with the company managers, workers
\nand the Serang office of the Ministry of Manpower.<\/p>\n
The strike went on peacefully and the workers dispersed three
\nhours later. A worker said they were going to take two-days off
\nstarting tomorrow. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/8000-workers-strike-for-meal-allowance-and-wage-increase-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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