Garment workers protest dismissals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some 17 former workers of garment manufacturer
\nPT Kemenangan Langgeng in North Jakarta visited the National
\nCommission on Human Rights on Tuesday to complain about their
\ndismissals.<\/p>\n
The workers' spokeswoman, Atin, told commission member BN
\nMarbun that the company dismissed them because they set up an
\nindependent workers union called the Independent Garment Labor
\nUnion on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
\"To set up an independent workers union is our right. The
\ncompany cannot fire us only because of that,\" Atin, who is also
\nthe union's chairwoman, said.<\/p>\n
The workers, who were accompanied by lawyers from the FAS
\nlegal aid institute, set up a union because they were adverse to
\njoining the government-backed All-Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI),
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
The company offered the workers severance pay of Rp 200,000
\n(US$22.20) each, but they refused the offer, she said.<\/p>\n
Marbun seemed unhappy with the presence of lawyers in the
\ncommission's meeting room and told them to leave, but one of the
\nlawyers, Nikson, rejected the demand, saying that Marbun had no
\nright to tell them to leave the room.<\/p>\n
\"I just want to talk with the workers,\" said the commission
\nmember, who promised the workers he would send a letter
\nconcerning the matter to the company.<\/p>\n
The company's executives could not be reached for comment on
\nTuesday. A receptionist at the firm said there had been no
\ndismissals from the company. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/garment-workers-protest-dismissals-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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