Workers seek council support over allowances<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of two hundred construction
\nworkers marched to the city council building yesterday, asking
\ncouncilors to help them press their employer, PT Inasa Wahana
\nLestari, for an increase in their transport and meal allowances.<\/p>\n
\"The current transport and meal allowances, which are
\ncurrently Rp 900 (40 U.S. cents) and Rp 1,000 respectively, are
\ntoo small,\" Tolibin T. Barkawi, a workers' delegate, told the
\ncouncil's Commission E, which is responsible for social welfare.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, we ask the city council to help press our demand,\"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
He said that, currently, the transport and meal allowances are
\nincluded in the regional minimum wage of Rp 4,600, paid to most
\nemployees of the firm.<\/p>\n
Barkawi himself, for example, said he receives only Rp 6,000
\nper day, including the transport and meal allowances, although he
\nhas worked for the firm for five years.<\/p>\n
He told the councilors that the workers have yet to decide on
\nthe fixed amount of transport and meal allowances which they
\nwant.<\/p>\n
But, as a proposal, he suggested a daily Rp 1,500 for
\ntransport and Rp 3,000 for meals.<\/p>\n
Barkawi said a collective labor agreement signed between the
\nfirm and its workers on March 8 had yet to be implemented by the
\nemployer.<\/p>\n
He said that the yet-to-be-honored agreement covers conditions
\nof employment such as maternity leave and holiday pay.<\/p>\n
Last week saw the company's entire staff on strike from Monday
\nuntil Friday over the transport and meal allowance dispute.
\nHowever, the company has yet to offer any increase in the
\nallowances, Barkawi said.<\/p>\n
The workers sent 15 delegates to the council last Friday, but
\nthese failed to get meet with any of the councilors.<\/p>\n
After learning that workers' delegates had tried to meet with
\nmembers of the city council, the company met the delegates on
\nFriday afternoon and promised that the employees' demands would
\nbe discussed on Oct. 7.<\/p>\n
On that basis the workers agreed to go back to work on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
Commission Chairman Atje Muljadi promised that Commission E
\nwould do its best to help the workers. He said members of the
\ncommission would try to arrange a meeting with executives of the
\ncompany.<\/p>\n
\"The commission will monitor the situation and help settle the
\ndispute,\" Atje said. (32)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/workers-seek-council-support-over-allowances-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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