Thousands of workers demand outstanding severance pay<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang<\/p>\n
Thousands of workers launched demonstrations in Tangerang on
\nMonday to demand outstanding severance pay.<\/p>\n
The workers, representing four companies, staged separate
\nrallies.<\/p>\n
\"We can not wait until the company sells all its assets
\nbecause we need money for Idul Fitri preparations,\" Joko, a
\nformer PT Doson Indonesia employee, told The Jakarta Post during
\nthe rally on Jl. Raya Legok, Legok district.<\/p>\n
PT Doson, an Indonesian company contracted to make Nike shoes,
\nceased operations on Sept. 24, leaving 6,890 workers without
\njobs.<\/p>\n
Joko said only 500 workers had received severance pay, with
\nthe remainder told my management that they must wait until the
\ncompany's assets were sold.<\/p>\n
Around 700 workers previously employed by PT Koinus Jaya, a
\ngarment manufacturer, protested at the factory compound on Jl.
\nImam Bonjol, Karawaci district.<\/p>\n
\"We have been waiting for our severance pay since the company
\nwas closed in August due to declining orders, but as of today we
\ndon't know where we stand,\" Koisiyah, one of the workers, said.<\/p>\n
She said the Korean company that employed mostly female
\nworkers had continually postponed payments promised for early
\nSeptember.<\/p>\n
\"We can no longer be patient because some of us have been
\nforced to sell clothes or any valuables to survive,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 500 former workers from garment producer PT Cathay
\nMurni protested outside the municipal manpower office.<\/p>\n
The workers, who arrived at the agency office in several
\ncompany buses, demanded agency officials help them recover their
\nseverance pay.<\/p>\n
Lina, a worker with the Korean company for 10 years, said she
\nwas only offered severance equal to half her monthly salary.<\/p>\n
Workers were paid the regional minimum wage of about Rp
\n590,000 per month (US$15 per week).<\/p>\n
None of the laid-off workers were willing to accept the
\nseverance pay offers, demanding the company pay them in
\naccordance with existing labor laws.<\/p>\n
The regulations state severance pay depends on the working
\nperiod. Generally, a worker made redundant is paid a months'
\nsalary for each year worked, up to a maximum of six years.<\/p>\n
Lina said the staff were laid off on Oct. 25 without any prior
\nwarning, with management claiming the company was ceasing
\noperations due to the absense of orders.<\/p>\n
However, Lina alleged company management were using an old
\ntrick to rid itself of senior workers earning the maximum wage,
\nand to avoid paying Idul Fitri and Christmas bonuses.<\/p>\n
About 200 workers, all women, from shoe-part manufacturer PT
\nKomas Rama Jaya Indonesia, also demanded severance during a rally
\nat the regency manpower agency office in Cikokol.<\/p>\n
Former employee Sugih, 20, said the Korean company was closed
\non Oct. 5 with management only offering severance pay equal to
\none month's pay.<\/p>\n
The company said it was forced to close due to the lack of
\norders.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thousands-of-workers-demand-outstanding-severance-pay-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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