Workers protest management's breaking of deal<\/p>\n
TANGERANG (JP): More than 10,000 workers of PT Hardaya Aneka
\nShoes, which produces Nike shoes, protested again yesterday after
\nthe company broke a deal made after the first demonstration
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
There were episodes of violence in demonstration, with workers
\nsmashing the company's windows and the windshields of two cars in
\nthe parking lot.<\/p>\n
Dozens of riot police and military officers were sent to calm
\nthe angry workers. A police helicopter hovered above the factory.<\/p>\n
The demonstration started at about 7 a.m yesterday when
\nthousands of workers entered the factory on Jl. Gajah Tunggal,
\nTangerang, 40 kilometers southwest of here.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday they demanded their employers pay them the new
\nminimum full-time wage of Rp 172,000 a month. A worker said they
\ndid get Rp 172,000, \"but this includes overtime pay\".<\/p>\n
Another worker said they wanted to be given their wage sheets,
\nbecause they were never told the details of their wages.<\/p>\n
The old minimum wage for Greater Jakarta was Rp 156,000 a
\nmonth. The new minimum full-time wage of Rp 172,000 a month
\nbecame effective this month.<\/p>\n
Siti Hartati Murdaya, the company's president director, denied
\nthe workers' statements. In a letter to The Jakarta Post on
\nThursday, she said the company paid Rp 172,000 in wages plus
\novertime allowances. Each worker got Rp 259,747 a month, Siti
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Tuesday's demonstration ended with the management agreeing to
\npay Rp 172,000 (US$71.66) a month minimum wage for new workers.<\/p>\n
The management also agreed that anyone who had worked at the
\nfirm for more than a year would get an additional eight percent
\nplus a premium based on 30 working days.<\/p>\n
But the management said Wednesday the premium would be based
\non 25 working days, instead of the agreed 30.<\/p>\n
This appears to have enraged the workers, because the deal was
\nmade in front of Tangerang legislators and a representative from
\nthe Ministry of Manpower.<\/p>\n
The workers said that yesterday's demonstration had nothing to
\ndo with the rumor that the company would fire the union leaders
\nwho led Tuesday's protest. \"There were no leaders in Tuesday's or
\ntoday's demonstrations,\" a worker said.<\/p>\n
The workers ended their protest at about 10 a.m. They were
\nasked to resume work on Monday.<\/p>\n
Nike<\/p>\n
Nike Indonesia's director of labor practice, Joel Enderle,
\nrefused to comment on the demonstrations. He said only Nike's
\ncommunications director for the Asia Pacific, Marta Benson, was
\nauthorized to comment.<\/p>\n
From Hong Kong, Marta said she had received detailed reports
\non the demonstrations.<\/p>\n
She said her office had ordered all Nike representatives in
\nthe Asia Pacific to issue internal bulletins on any changes to
\ngovernment policies on labor affairs.<\/p>\n
\"The internal bulletins are expected to improve communications
\nbetween managements and workers. The demonstrations (in
\nTangerang) were the result of a miscommunication,\" she said.<\/p>\n
National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo and Armed Forces
\nSpokesman Brig. Gen. Slamet Supriadi had earlier warned employers
\nto give workers their rights to avoid any protest that could lead
\nto rioting during the election campaign period. (jun\/12)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/workers-protest-managements-breaking-of-deal-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}