Factory to fire over 600 workers

JAKARTA (JP): An electronics plant in Jatiuwung, Tangerang, plans to dismiss its more than 600 employees because it faces bankruptcy.

"The factory, PT Automen Electronic Manufacturing is already closed up," Kristina Widiantarti, a legal counselor appointed by the workers, said over the weekend.

She told The Jakarta Post that an agreement has been drawn up to pay workers 25 percent of their grievance allowance now and the rest sometime in the future. This amount may add up to only one month's pay. No one from the management side or the workers side has signed the agreement of June 10.

"Nobody from the management wanted to be responsible because they said the Korean owner has left," a worker said.

The counselor from the Jakarta Social Institute, a non- governmental organization working on urban issues, said 12 employees came on Friday seeking help from the office.

"We will try to start negotiations with the management so the workers get their rights," she said, adding that many employees had worked there since the plant opened in 1991.

To her knowledge, the management has not acquired the required permission from the Ministry of Manpower's central board settlement of labor conflicts for mass dismissals. (anr)