Case of bank workers handled

Case of bank workers handled

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights has vowed to immediately help resolve a dispute between 52 employees of PT Bank Umum Nasional and the bank's executives.

The employees are complaining about the working contract system and the minimum wage rate applied by the bank, which is partly owned by timber tycoon Bob Hasan.

Baharuddin Lopa, the secretary-general of the government- appointed rights body, said the commission received a complaint from the workers, mostly security officers, office boys and drivers, on Tuesday.

The body will do its best to resolve the matter, he said.

The workers say that the one-year working contract system puts them at a disadvantage because they can be fired any time the company wishes to dismiss them.

At least 17 of their colleagues have been fired thus far. (bsr)