Carpet makers want allowances

JAKARTA (JP): More than 60 employees of the PT Uvico Pertiwi carpet manufacturer met with the City Council on Thursday to seek help in obtaining more allowances.

Teguh Santono, the chairman of Uvico Pertiwi's workers union, told the City Council's Commission E for social welfare that the workers current wages were no longer adequate to meet their daily needs. "Therefore we demand that the company provide us with monthly meal, transportation and housing allowances."

He said that the company currently pays its workers between Rp 4,600 (US$2.02) and Rp 4,750 per day, without any allowances.

He said that the workers have been working for the for the company for either five or seven years.

PT Uvico is located in Kapuk, North Jakarta.

The workers officially conveyed their demands to the company's management, but they were rejected.

In a written statement submitted to the council by Teguh, one of the company's directors said that the company could not fulfill the workers' request.

Roy Djohan, the director, also stated that the company would provide incentives for the workers based on their working performances, he said.

He also promised to raise the workers' salaries after the workers improve their performance.

Atje Mulyadi, the chairman of the commission, said that the workers demands are reasonable.

He said the commission will immediately invite the company's management, as well as representatives of the administration, to discuss the matter.

He promised that the best solution possible would be reached, and urged the workers not to strike. (32)