Anxious workers halt overseas trip

BANJARNEGARA, Central Java: Some 300 workers bound for several Asian countries rallied at a labor exporting company here to demand that it cancel their overseas trip for fear the unrest during the campaign season now underway for the June elections would affect the company.

The workers also demanded a return of their registration fees, which cost each of them Rp 3 million (US$370). The company, PT Developer Asia Pasifik, had used some of the money for the training expenses of the workers.

"We are afraid that the company will stop operating and its management will run away if election-related unrest prevails in the country," Aris, one of the protesters, said.

"We'd better end our dreams of working abroad than lose our money," he added.

He said he and his friends were disappointed with the company for delaying their departure from the original schedule of November last year.

Company director, Surachmad, was not available for comment. His staff said he was not in the office. (45)