440 textile workers fired

440 textile workers fired

PEKALONGAN, Central Java: More than 440 textile workers lost
their jobs after their companies went bankrupt due to a market
slump and soaring raw material prices.

All were workers at PT Sugih Mitra Kharisma, PT Faristeks and
CV Tobal Batik Industri, chief of the local manpower office
Suprapto said Wednesday.

He said that only a few of the employees of the many thousands
in this "textile town" were going to lose their jobs for the same
reasons.

"PT Sugih Mitra Kharisma and PT Faristeks have officially
closed down and given their employees severance pay of between Rp
120,000 and Rp 600,000 (US$53-268) each," he told Antara.

Director of the financially troubled CV Tobal Batik Industri
Fatichah Achmad confirmed she had dismissed 200 workers. "The
move was made to save the company," she said. (pan)