2,000 workers continue strike

TANGERANG, West Java (JP): At least 2,000 employees of PT Starwin Indonesia continued their strike yesterday, demanding that the company pay their attendance allowances, which have not been given to them in the past six months.

The workers, who went on strike Monday, refused to enter production rooms. They gathered in the factory compound instead.

They also protested the management's decision to dismiss 180 employees. The company, which produces shoes, announced Tuesday that it relieved 180 workers of their jobs.

The striking employees argued that the decision was one-sided because the management has failed to give clear reasons for the dismissals.

According to several employees, the company's management has repeatedly reneged on its promise to pay them their attendance allowances. "We have not received our attendance allowances since April 3. The management argued that it could not afford it because its current financial condition has not been favorable since implementing the regulation issued by the Ministry of Manpower on the daily minimum wage of Rp 5,200," one of the striking workers said. (28/bas)