500 workers continue strike

JAKARTA (JP): At least 500 employees of garment producing company PT Tong Kyung M.A. continued a strike on Tuesday at the company compound in the Nusantara Bonded Zone in Cakung, North Jakarta, demanding their wages be increased.

According to the workers, they have been on strike for almost a week.

Irma, spokeswoman for the workers of the South Korean- Indonesian joint venture, said the wage increase was badly needed as the workers, mostly women, got a take-home pay of only Rp 8,700 (US$1.08) per day.

"We want our wages to have detailed components, including basic salary, transportation fees and meal allowances," Irma said, adding that the workers demanded a basic salary of Rp 7,700 a day in line with the official minimum wage, transportation allowance of Rp 1,500 a day and meal allowance of Rp 1,000 a day.

The workers, grouped under the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI), also urged the company to include them in the social security program Jamsostek, she said.

The company, which specializes in the production of women's clothes for export, was asked to pay the workers' income taxes as required by a joint agreement between the firm and the workers, she said.

"We will continue our strike if our demands are not met," Irma said.

The company's representatives could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. (jun)