Stepped-up training urged for workers<\/p>\n
TANGERANG (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Juwono
\nSudarsono on Monday called for more education programs for
\nfactory workers across the country.<\/p>\n
"I want more (factory education programs) like this one to be
\nset up in this country, particularly in areas such as Tangerang,"
\nJuwono told The Jakarta Post after inaugurating an education
\nprogram jointly organized by Nike and its subcontractors here.<\/p>\n
Juwono said he did not know whether similar education programs
\nalready had been established by other companies in the country.<\/p>\n
"There might be some, but this (Nike) school is the first one
\nI've ever visited," said Juwono, who has served as a minister in
\nPresident B.J. Habibie's Cabinet since May last year.<\/p>\n
He called the educational facilities available through the
\nNike program "extremely extraordinary" for the participating
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
"The schools' facilities are of course much better than those
\navailable at the average school in West Java and Jakarta," Juwono
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The Nike's factory schools inaugurated on Monday are jointly
\nfinanced by the world-renowned footwear producer and its four
\nsubcontractors here: PT Pratama Abadi Industri, PT Astra Graphia,
\nPT Hardaya Aneka Shoes Industry and PT Nagasakti Parama Shoes
\nIndustry.<\/p>\n
Some 500 employees from these four subcontractor factories are
\nparticipating in the education program.<\/p>\n
Literacy<\/p>\n
Most of the students are working toward earning their junior
\nhigh school diplomas, while a few others, mostly elderly workers,
\nare taking literacy classes.<\/p>\n
At the Pratama factory on Jl. Serpong Raya here, where the
\ninauguration ceremony took place on Monday, 11 teachers from the
\nlocal education office have been hired for the program.<\/p>\n
According to Tony Nava, general manager of Nike Inc.
\nIndonesia, a subsidiary of Nike International, the program is
\npart of the company's commitment to implement a series of
\ncorporate responsibility initiatives launched by Nike's chief
\nexecutive, Philip H. Knight, in May last year for workers at its
\nsubcontractor factories in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"Nike believes its assistance (in helping to further the
\neducation of some Indonesians) is relevant, particularly during
\ntoday's tough times," he said.<\/p>\n
"We strongly believe education is the key to the success of
\nour workers, as well as their families," said Nava, who worked as
\na teacher for seven years in the United States.<\/p>\n
The factory education program, designed by Nike for its less-
\neducated casual workers, began last year in the factories of
\nthree other Nike subcontractors: PT Nikomas, PT Karet Murni
\nJelita and PT Karet Murni Kencana.<\/p>\n
A total of 546 workers from the three subcontractor factories
\nare participating in the program. Seventeen of the enrolled
\nstudents received their junior high school diplomas during
\nMonday's ceremony.<\/p>\n
Nike Indonesia has 11 subcontractors, seven of which have
\nimplemented the education program for their workers.<\/p>\n
"The other four Nike subcontractor factories will implement
\nthe same program early next year," Nava said.<\/p>\n
Nike and its local partners received the Literacy Award in
\nSeptember last year from the Indonesian government for their
\nefforts to reduce illiteracy in the country through the factory
\neducation program.<\/p>\n
According to workers participating in the program, the
\nschools, located at their respective factories, held classes from
\n4 p.m. to 7 p.m. each working day.<\/p>\n
"I really enjoy the school and hope one day I can really read
\nand write," said 44-year-old Neni, an employee at Pratama Abadi
\nIndustri, who participates in the literacy class.<\/p>\n
One of her teachers said each of the participating workers
\nreceived overtime pay for attending the four-hour class.<\/p>\n
"The amount is different, depending upon a worker's status and
\nposition," he said.<\/p>\n
According to Nava, Nike Indonesia and its 11 subcontractor
\nfactories here employ a total of 70,000 workers.<\/p>\n
He said the factories produced between 45 million and 55
\nmillion pairs of shoes per year, an average of between four
\nmillion and five million pairs of shoes each month.<\/p>\n
"One to 2 percent of our products go to the local market. The
\nrest are shipped to overseas markets, particularly the U.S.,"
\nNava said.<\/p>\n
Nike Indonesia has been operating in this country for almost
\n11 years. (bsr)<\/p>",
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