Shoe firm workers strike in protest at intimidation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A South Korean shoe firm ground to an abrupt
\nstandstill yesterday when all 2,500 workers went on strike to
\nprotest alleged intimidation by two police officers hired by the
\ncompany as executives.<\/p>\n
About 100 of their colleagues lodged their grievance with the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights, demanding the body insist PT
\nBosaeng Jaya immediately fire the two officers.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot work in comfort and always feel afraid since the
\ntwo wear their police uniforms in the factory all the time and
\nnever want to listen to our complaints,\" said workers' spokesman
\nPratigto.<\/p>\n
He claimed that the two, whom he identified as Maj. Gatot
\nBudisutopo and Maj. Budyono from the National Police
\nheadquarters, often forced employees to resign without receiving
\nproper compensation.<\/p>\n
According to Pratigto, the officers -- employed at the firm
\nfor seven years as factory manager and personnel manager
\nrespectively -- were used by the South Korean owners as the
\n\"shield\" in their interactions with local employees.<\/p>\n
None of the Korean executives showed up to discuss the problem
\nwith workers yesterday, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We'll continue to strike until the two police officers are
\ndismissed from our company,\" Pratigto said. Workers are also
\nseeking annual bonuses and proper work-safety equipment.<\/p>\n
The executives were unavailable for comment.<\/p>\n
In May, several representatives of the workers lodged a
\nsimilar complaint with the commission.<\/p>\n
According to commission member B.N. Marbun, who received the
\nprotesters yesterday, his institution had sent letters for
\nconfirmation to the National Police and City Police but had not
\nreceived a reply.<\/p>\n
Marbun promised to send another letter to the National Police
\nHeadquarters soon to ask for help to clarify the matter and the
\nstatus of the officers.<\/p>\n
When asked to comment, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen.
\nDa'i Bachtiar said: \"We'll double check on the case soon and
\ntrace the names of the two officers before we come out with our
\nfinal judgment.<\/p>\n
\"The two might have picked up the police uniforms off the
\nstreet.\"<\/p>\n
After visiting the commission, the employees headed to the
\nJakarta Legal Aid Institute to seek legal advice. (edt\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/shoe-firm-workers-strike-in-protest-at-intimidation-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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