Plywood company fires 2,400 workers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some 2,400 workers, dismissed without warning on
\nMonday by plywood manufacturer PT Dayak Besar in East Kalimantan,
\nbegan moving out of their barracks yesterday.<\/p>\n
Mothers carried their babies and men their belongings as the
\nformer employees left their makeshift accommodation in Palaran
\nvillage, near the East Kalimantan capital Samarinda, under the
\nwatchful eyes of security officers.<\/p>\n
\"Several pregnant mothers were seen walking out of the
\ncompound, carrying cardboard boxes containing household utensils
\nwith their under-fives trailing along behind,\" Antara reported.<\/p>\n
At the main gate, security officers demanded to see the
\nidentity card of every departing worker and conducted searches.
\nPolice and military officers barred journalists from entering the
\ncomplex without a permit from the local military office.<\/p>\n
The dismissal, effective this month, shocked not only the
\nsacked workers but also local government officials, because it
\nwas announced only on Monday,<\/p>\n
The management of PT Dayak Besar said they had to fire the
\n2,400 workers because they could not afford the raw materials
\nneeded for plywood production.<\/p>\n
But the head of the East Kalimantan manpower office,
\nSjachranie, expressed doubt about the company's explanation,
\nsaying that PT Dayak Besar still had 50,000 logs at its disposal.<\/p>\n
He claimed that it was financial trouble which had led to the
\ndismissal, and that it was the result of mismanagement.<\/p>\n
PT Dayak Besar initially had five forest concessions in East
\nKalimantan, but the government refused to extend three of them in
\n1993 because of permit violations. Another blow came this year,
\nwhen the government \"froze\" the remaining two concessions for the
\nsame reason.<\/p>\n
The governor of East Kalimantan, H.M. Ardans, has promised to
\nhelp the newly unemployed workers.<\/p>\n
\"We are approaching other companies which are interested in
\ntaking over the company,\" Sjachranie said.<\/p>\n
A number of workers said they had no choice but to accept the
\nfirm's decision to sack them.<\/p>\n
\"We are all shocked because the dismissal was announced only
\non Monday,\" said Ida, who hails from Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Another dismissed worker, Djaduli, had been employed in the
\nfactory for four years. He said that rumors about a mass
\ndismissal had circulated a long time ago, but that not many
\npeople had taken them seriously.<\/p>\n
\"The management promised to give us severance pay on April
\n25,\" he said. \"I have decided to return to my home village after
\nthat,\" said a worker from Tator, South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
The company's management was not available for comment
\nyesterday. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/plywood-company-fires-2400-workers-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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