Garment workers seek help from human rights commission<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Thirty-four workers of the PT Duta Busana
\nDanastri garment factory called on the National Commission on
\nHuman Rights yesterday to influence the management to treat them
\nfairly.<\/p>\n
\"The management forces us to work at night under day-time
\nconditions. We demand that the management provide us with extra
\nfood and transportation facilities,\" Siti Nurrofiqoh, the
\nspokeswoman for the protesters, said.<\/p>\n
Nurrofiqoh, 25, said the workers need extra food to stay
\nhealthy and transportation from home and back again when they
\nwork the night shift because most of them are women.<\/p>\n
Prior to the protest, the management had decided to centralize
\nthe company's production at its factory on Jl. Kemandoran and to
\nclose another one on Jl. Palmerah Barat, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In line with this move, the company asked hundreds of workers
\nto resign voluntarily. The management is now urging the remaining
\nworkers to work at night at the factory on Jl. Kemandoran. The
\nworkers have rejected this offer on the basis it constitutes
\nhardships for them.<\/p>\n
\"It's not unusual for women workers like us to ask for
\ntransportation facilities in a big city like Jakarta,\" Nurrofiqoh
\nexplained the demands.<\/p>\n
A member of the rights commission, Asmara Nababan, immediately
\ncontacted the management by telephone and talked to its vice
\nchairwoman Elliani Sapta Dewi.<\/p>\n
Asmara told the protesters that the management could not
\nunderstand their wishes. \"They invite you to negotiate with
\nthem,\" Asmara said.<\/p>\n
Inhumane<\/p>\n
Last month the protesters also reported what they called
\n\"inhumane\" treatment by company personnel to the commission. The
\nworkers complained that they were ordered to take off their
\npanties so the company officials could see whether they really
\nwere having their period when they requested monthly menstruation
\nleave.<\/p>\n
Under Indonesian law a female worker has the right to take a
\ntwo-day menstruation leave every month.<\/p>\n
While waiting for Asmara to arrive at the commission office
\nyesterday, the laborers unfurled posters which read \"Dockers are
\nsold dearly, workers are paid poorly\" and \"The Ministry of
\nManpower, where is your responsibility?\"<\/p>\n
Dockers is the brand name for the denim clothes currently
\nbeing produced by PT Duta Busana Danastri.<\/p>\n
When asked by Asmara why the protesters could not solve their
\nproblem themselves, delegate Suparlan said the bargaining
\nposition of the laborers was very weak.<\/p>\n
\"We're cornered. Elliani Sapta Dewi has a good connection with
\nan official of the Ministry of Manpower,\" Suparlan noted.<\/p>\n
Suparlan said the official sides with the management.<\/p>\n
The protesters were to begin negotiating with the management
\nlast night in hopes of a compromise. (09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/garment-workers-seek-help-from-human-rights-commission-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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