Expatriate seeking help

I am an expatriate and have been working in Indonesia for more than five years. I like the country because of its relaxed nature, unlike Singapore, which is a little bit too formal and too much manmade. For the past three-and-a-half years I was employed as a director looking after factory production and sales. At the end of last year, when my contract was expired, a company approached me and invited me to work for them with nice benefits. Finally I was persuaded to start working for them on Jan. 1, 1994.

In March the company had financial problems. Early in April one of the vice presidents asked me to leave the company with immediate effect without giving me any notice in advance. This is contrary to the rules as prescribed in the contract. I tried to ask for compensation but I was unsuccessful.

I reported the case to the authorities concerned, but I have yet to receive any reply. I also tried to seek a lawyer's help but I was told that the case was too small to handle.

T.R. HSU

Jakarta