3,000 workers on strike to demand two months' pay

Rusman, Samarinda

Up to 3,000 workers from two plywood companies in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, continued their strike on Monday to demand that the firms pay their salaries for the last two months.

Police arrested at least two unidentified men for pointing a traditional dagger at a protest leader during the strike at PT Kalimanis Plywood Industry (KPI) and PT Santi Murni Plywood (SMP).

The strike started two weeks ago, bringing work at the two companies, which are owned by the Hong Kong-based Shine Hill Limited, to a halt.

"We are just seeking certainty as to when our salaries will be paid. The workers are not asking for anything else," said Benny Putti, a representative of the protesters.

He said the companies, located in the Selili area, had continued to make empty promises to pay their workers.

"Most of the workers have families and must pay the school fees of their children. In addition, they have also run up debts with food stalls and have to pay their house rents.

"Please take note of our fate. People should not be treated as slaves," Benny said.

Benny and other representatives of the protesting workers were received by Wahyudi Manaf, the operational affairs head of the two companies.

Wahyudi admitted that the workers' salaries had not been paid for two months as the companies had failed to achieve their sales targets.

The firms had targeted the sale of at least 7,000 sheets of plywood per month but had managed to sell only between 4,000 and 5,000 sheets of plywood per month, he said.

This had affected production costs, he said.

"Apart from that, a timber shipment had experienced delays," he added.

However, Wahyudi said the management had agreed to pay the workers Rp 1.5 billion (US$166,666) as a stopgap measure until they were paid their salaries.

Each of them would receive Rp 500,000, although they were entitled to salaries of between Rp 800,000 and Rp 1 million each per month.

"The money will be distributed to the employees this week. As regards the reminder of what they are due, this will be discussed by their representatives and the management to decide on how it can be paid," Wahyudi said.

Monday's protest was marred by a minor clash when two unidentified men pointed a traditional dagger at Ismet, the leader of East Kalimantan branch of the Indonesian Workers National Struggle Front (FNPBI), who was accompanying the protesters.

The strikers later attacked the two men, beating them with sticks. The two were taken by police to a station in Samarinda after the incident, which took place at around 10:30 a.m.

A policeman who tried to protect the two men was also attacked.

"If the men had not been protected by us, they could have been killed by the emotional mob," said Samarinda Ilir Police chief Adj. Comr. Bharata, who was at the scene.