Factory workers demand justice

BOGOR: More than 230 mostly female staff laid off from the PT Sahabat Unggul Internasional textile factory staged a protest at the Bogor City Council on Tuesday about their dismissal.

The workers said management had dismissed them after a dispute about about employee insurance payments and allowances on April 23.

"Only 17 of us have received severance pay, which was a pittance -- most staff have worked here for five to 10 years. The money was also not given in any formal way," said Iman Kiswoyo, head of the company's workers union.

The Council's Commission E head overseeing the people's welfare, Soni Sondiamon, said he would write to the manpower agency to revoke the company's permit to dismiss workers. The agency would also ensure severance pay was disbursed in a transparent way, he said. -- JP