Hunger-striking workers in bad shape in East Kalimantan<\/p>\n
Rusman, Samarinda<\/p>\n
Thousands of workers with two timber companies continued their
\ntwo-week protest on Friday to demand their April and May
\nsalaries, nine of whom have been on a hunger strike since
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
The protesters are also holding two executives of PT Kalimanis
\nPlywood Industry (KPI) and PT Santi Murni Plywood (SMP), whom
\nthey took hostage on Tuesday to press for their demands to be
\nmet.<\/p>\n
The hunger striking workers were in bad shape on Friday but
\nvowed to continue until their demands were met by the companies.<\/p>\n
\"We are accustomed not to eating. Moreover, we haven't
\nreceived our salaries for two months,\" said Gartini, one of the
\nnine hunger strikers.<\/p>\n
\"All the workers and their families are experiencing the same
\nfate as us, they are probably starving,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The nine hunger strikers camped out in front of the main gate
\nof the East Kalimantan governor's office in Samarinda, while
\nother protesters picketed outside the companies.<\/p>\n
The strike, involving some 3,000 workers, began two weeks ago
\nand on Tuesday they kidnapped two company executives --
\noperational division head Wahyudi Manaf and his assistant Bonar
\nSianturi.<\/p>\n
The company management has only agreed to pay them Rp 500,000
\n(US$55) each per month, although their monthly salaries are
\nbetween Rp 800,000 and Rp 1 million. The company claims it does
\nnot have the funds to pay the workers.<\/p>\n
In a recent meeting between both sides, the companies promised
\nto pay the salaries in full in the near future.<\/p>\n
The first part will be paid later this week, and further talks
\nare scheduled to discuss the remaining payment.<\/p>\n
Ismet Soeryo, chairman of East Kalimantan's National Front for
\nthe Struggle of Indonesian Workers (FNPBI), said the hostage-
\ntaking and the strike were aimed at putting pressure on the
\ncompanies he accused of neglecting employees' welfare.<\/p>\n
The move was also to protest against the government, which
\nIsmet said has \"always sheltered behind the companies\" and failed
\nto protect the workers.<\/p>\n
\"The fate of the workers is under threat. They are finding it
\nincreasingly difficult to support their daily existence. Their
\ndemand for food has not been met and their children may be forced
\nto drop out of school,\" Ismet said.<\/p>\n
East Kalimantan administration official Sjachruddin said the
\nlocal government would mediate to settle the deepening labor
\ndispute at the two timber companies located in Selili, Samarinda.<\/p>\n
\"The provincial government will try to find a solution to this
\nproblem by acting as a facilitator. Alternatively, we may wait
\nfor the results of talks between the workers' representatives and
\nthe managements,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Sjachruddin said his office would send a letter to the owner
\nof the companies, Shine Hill based in Hong Kong, urging it to
\nimmediately resolve the case.<\/p>\n
The companies have reportedly not paid salaries to over the
\n3,000 workers because the plywood business is severely depressed.
\nNegotiations between the firm's management and the workers have
\nbeen held, but no clear solution has been reached.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hunger-striking-workers-in-bad-shape-in-east-kalimantan-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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