Businesses need safety guarantee

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)