Union demands share of profits<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A forestry workers union member yesterday
\ndemanded the government improve their welfare by giving them a
\nsmall percentage of the country's profits from the lucrative
\ntimber business.<\/p>\n
Sofiati Muladi of the Forestry Workers Union said the workers
\nasked that a dollar be set aside for their welfare from the
\nprofits gained from every cubic meter of exported panel wood.<\/p>\n
She pointed out that Wood Panel Association (Apkindo) gets ten
\ndollars for every cubic meter of wood exported. This money goes
\nto a fund to help the associations businessmen improve their
\nbusinesses.<\/p>\n
\"How come ten dollars goes to businesses in the association,
\nbut nothing goes to the workers,\" she said in a union meeting
\nhere yesterday. \"The one dollar that we ask for can be used for
\ntraining and improving our human resources.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the world's largest plywood supplier, produces
\nabout 10 million cubic meters of plywood annually. Central Bureau
\nof Statistics recorded the total exports for the January-August
\n1995 period at US$2.29 billion.<\/p>\n
\"The workers have given their best to the companies, but their
\nwelfare is poor,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Datoek Bagindo of the Federation of All Indonesian Trade
\nUnions (SPSI) focused his discussion yesterday on workers union
\nleadership.<\/p>\n
He blamed rampant labor disputes in the country on the fact
\nthat workers unions don't have good leaders. External parties
\nhave the power to influence chairmanship elections so that those
\nelected did not really voice workers' aspirations, he said.<\/p>\n
Haryadi Darmawan, an official of the Ministry of Manpower,
\nacknowledged that exploitation of workers still occurred. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/union-demands-share-of-profits-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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