Bank workers protest payments

JAKARTA (JP): At least 500 former employees of liquidated banks urged the government on Monday to help settle lingering severance pay problems.

The protesters demanded to talk with Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita and representatives of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) to discuss a "fair and realistic solution to the problem".

The protesters, who were led by field coordinator Ibnu Sina, however, failed to meet Ginandjar as he was attending a Cabinet meeting at the State Palace, Antara reported.

The former bank employees demanded earlier that those with a monthly salary of Rp 500,000 or less be given severance pay worth 6.5 months and others with a monthly salary of Rp 6.5 million or more be given a severance pay of 3.5 months' wages.

IBRA decided in April that those with a monthly salary of Rp 500,000 or less be given 3.25 times the amount and others with salaries of Rp 5 million or more would get 1.1 times the amount.

According to IBRA, 1,500 former employees of four of the liquidated banks have agreed to the decision.