Businesses need safety guarantee

SURABAYA: East Javanese and South Korean businessmen separately called for better security guarantees for the their business activities here on Wednesday amid the rising number of labor demonstrations in the province.

Leading a delegation of South Korean businessmen to a meeting with East Java Governor Imam Utomo, South Korean Ambassador Kim Jae-sup, voiced his concern over possible labor actions that could disrupt activities of South Korean partnerships in the province.

According to Kim, there were 40 Korean companies based in East Java and about 700 Korean citizens who needed protection.

"We only ask the governor to maintain security while laborers conduct demonstrations," Kim said to reporters.

Separately, 15 East Javanese businessmen met with the governor to voice the same concerns.

Included in the group were president of Maspion Group Alim Markus whose company employs some 30,000 laborers, president of cigarette company PT Gudang Garam Bintoro Tanjung who employs about 40,000 laborers, CEO of PT Bogasari Flour Mills Herman Djuhar and East Java-based Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Erlangga Satriagung.

Governor Imam Utomo admitted that labor issues had given him quite a headache: "We have imposed a standard regional minimum wage for the laborers, but their demands do not seem to stop," he said. (nur)