Female workers want more pay

Female workers want more pay

SEMARANG: Around 1,000 workers of a garment factory, all
women, thronged in front of the Central Java provincial
legislative council here to demand better salary and treatment.

The workers of PT Surya Indah Garmindo, asked the legislators
to pay serious attention to the fate of women workers.

Among the demands were better pay, meal and transportation
allowance, and hygienic water. The workers also urged the
management to pay social security insurance (Jamsostek) for them
and allow them to join any labor union.

"We want freedom to affiliate with any trade union. There are
now many labor unions, not only the SPSI," spokesperson for the
demonstrators, Aspiah said, referring to the All-Indonesia Labor
Union Federation.

Aspiah told the legislators the local office of the Ministry
of Manpower had failed to help the workers.

Abdul Kadir Karding, who represented the legislators, said he
would mediate the dispute. "We will meet the management and
discuss the demands, as long as they are lawful and reasonable,"
Karding said. (har/sur)