2,000 workers continue strike

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)