DI employees seek legislators' help

DI employees seek legislators' help

JAKARTA: The representatives of employees of PT Dirgantara
Indonesia (PT DI) urged the House of Representatives (DPR) on
Thursday to help settle the unsolved problems plaguing the state-
owned aircraft company, which had to lay them off recently.

A workers' delegate was welcomed by House deputy speaker AM
Fatwa and legislator Cecep Rukmana from the Reform faction.

Suryadi, head of the delegation, alleged that the company's
compound had been occupied by the Air Force's special troops to
keep employees away, following the dismissal of 9,000 employees
in July.

PT DI, in dire financial straits, was forced to dismiss
thousands of workers in order to cut costs. The company's wage
expenses come to some Rp 35 billion each month.

Responding to the demand, Fatwa pledged that House leaders
would urge Military Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto to withdraw
the troops.

He said the deployment of military troops at a state-owned
company was not appropriate.

Fatwa added that the House would organize a joint meeting
involving related commissions to discuss the condition of the
company after Oct. 24, when the legislators will go back to work
after recess. -- JP