Disabled people sue Probosutedjo

JAKARTA (JP): About 80 workers of the Swa Prasidya Purna industrial workshop for the physically handicapped have filed a Rp 103.8 billion (US$15.7 million) lawsuit for unfair dismissal against workshop operator Probosutedjo at the Central Jakarta District Court.

They asked the court to order the tycoon -- a half brother of former president Soeharto -- to pay the compensation after he closed their workshop on Aug. 6 last year.

"With the closure of the workshop, the plaintiffs lost their jobs," said the group's lawyer Apong Herlina from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute.

Apong said the closure was illegal because it contravened regulations of the owner of the workshop, the Yayasan Harapan Kita foundation chaired by Soeharto.

She said the plaintiffs also demanded the foundation cede the workshop, located on Jl. Cempaka Putih Raya, Central Jakarta, to be used for activities of disabled workers.

The plaintiffs also said the Ministry of Social Affairs violated the law by approving the closure.

Dozens of workers accompanied Apong to court.(jun)