Council questions housing developer

BOGOR: Bogor Council Commission D for the economy has summoned the management of housing estate developer PT Bukit Sentul in relation to the dismissal of its 291 employees.

The company's human resources manager, Vicky Eric Sekion, told the council hearing on Tuesday that the dispute had been submitted to the labor dispute committee at the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration.

However, councillor Suprijanto underlined that the lay-off was but one of many complaints about the company's performance, including from the housing tenants who said the management had imposed on them high fees without prior warning.

"The company has 345 employees, but only 81 are permanent and many of the contract employees receive a salary far below the minimum regional wage of some Rp 690,000," he said.

The commission said it would demand the company's directors come forward to explain themselves.

"If they fail to show up after three times, we'll ask the police to escort them," Suprijanto added. -- JP