{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1340212,
        "msgid": "shortchanged-workers-face-uncertain-future-1447893297",
        "date": "2003-03-26 00:00:00",
        "title": "Shortchanged workers face uncertain future",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Shortchanged workers face uncertain future Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Thousands of workers from failing factories, formerly run in whole or in part by international companies, in Greater Jakarta are facing a bleak future as there is not yet an existing law that deals with foreign investors who close up shop without agreeing on settlements with the workers.",
        "content": "<p>Shortchanged workers face uncertain future<\/p>\n<p>Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n<p>Thousands of workers from failing factories, formerly run in<br>\nwhole or in part by international companies, in Greater Jakarta<br>\nare facing a bleak future as there is not yet an existing law<br>\nthat deals with foreign investors who close up shop without<br>\nagreeing on settlements with the workers.<\/p>\n<p>Agustinus Santoso, secretary of the national office of the<br>\nPeople's Legal Aid Institution (LBH Rakyat), told The Jakarta<br>\nPost on Tuesday that such situations had brought many labor<br>\nactivists and legal experts into a coalition.<\/p>\n<p>\"We will make our way to see a legal instrument established to<br>\nprevent foreign investors from fleeing the country and closing<br>\ntheir factories before paying their workers' salaries and<br>\nseverance pay,\" he said.<\/p>\n<p>Greater Jakarta's branch of LBH Rakyat (LBH Rakyat Jabotabek)<br>\nis currently handling the case of 300 workers from garment<br>\nfactory PT Elaine which is located in the industrial park Kawasan<br>\nBerikat Nusantara (KBN) in Cakung, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n<p>The factory abruptly stopped operations on Feb. 10 after the<br>\ninvestor group left the country for Taiwan, leaving the workers<br>\nwithout jobs or salaries.<\/p>\n<p>The operator of state-owned KBN is reportedly taking over the<br>\nfactory's machines and assets to auction off without questioning<br>\nthe employer's responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>\"We suspect a deal between KBN and the foreign investors to<br>\nallow the operator to obtain the assets for sale, ignoring the<br>\nproper procedures including the required court ruling on<br>\nbankruptcy,\" Agustinus further said.<\/p>\n<p>LBH Rakyat demanded the Directorate of Customs and Excises at<br>\nthe ministry of finance to issue a decree on forcing the employer<br>\nto pay the factory's unpaid expenses, including salaries, before<br>\nan auction was taken.<\/p>\n<p>Agustinus said he did not know when the workers might receive<br>\nthe money they are demanding since the directorate office had yet<br>\nto respond, saying only that, \"it will take time\". He added that<br>\nLBH Rakyat Jabotabek has also planned to file a complaint with<br>\nthe police.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, thousands of workers from eight garment factories<br>\nalso faced similar problems but no solution has been reached.<\/p>\n<p>Six of the factories in question are PT Global, PT Metro, PT<br>\nTongkyung Makmur Abadi, PT Indolim, PT Jaya Toys Rekatama and PT<br>\nP and K Garment Indonesia which were all operated by Korean<br>\ninvestors without Indonesian partners.<\/p>\n<p>The other two are: Japanese and Indonesian joint venture PT<br>\nKanisatex, located in Cileungsi, Bogor, and PT Trenton Garment<br>\nIndonesia, owned by a company from China.<\/p>\n<p>Many labor activists and legal practitioners accuse the<br>\ngovernment of greatly favoring foreign investors in its effort to<br>\ngenerate economic growth, while sacrificing the welfare of local<br>\nworkers.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/shortchanged-workers-face-uncertain-future-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}