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)