Hotel puts on meal for street cleaners
JAKARTA (JP): Street cleaners from the city's health service agency posted in the Gelora Senayan area were treated to a free buffet lunch by the Hotel Mulia Senayan yesterday.
In their blue uniforms, about 70 of the casual workers -- including dozens of women -- were warmly greeted by public relations staff of the five-star hotel, which still owes Rp 20.5 billion to the city administration in a long-running dispute.
They sat briefly at tables in The Cafe restaurant in the lobby, with some still wearing their caps and appearing bemused by the unfamiliar surroundings. They then lined up around the buffet tables offering a variety of international dishes.
The workers occasionally burst into nervous laughter when one of their colleagues dropped a piece of food or utensil on the tidy tiled floor.
The presence of the workers together with dozens of the agency's employees and security guards also attracted the attention of other diners.
"This is the way we commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the country's Independence Day," said public relations manager Lia Sunarjo.
Sampling the luxurious spread, which costs Rp 60,000++ a head, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the workers, who earn a monthly salary of about Rp 200,000 (about US$17).
"I never dreamed in my whole life that I would get to sit for a lunch like what I had today. Thank God," said Tanrim, 61, who has worked in the area for 13 years.
His colleague Maman, 40, added: "I still do not have the right words to describe this grand moment to my wife and two children later."
The 11-year veteran of the cleaning service in the area added: "My wish is that the hotel management will also invite our families to have a meal here one day."
Although waiters kept asking them to take more food or have drink refills, most of the workers declined.
Most only ate rice and beef, washed down with mineral water.
Surveying his sheepish-looking colleagues, one man reminded them: "Come on, guys. Don't be ashamed. It's a once-in-a-lifetime free meal from a hotel. Remember, food like this would cost you a lot outside there.
"So please go take some more!"
The workers are part of the 350-strong street cleaning group deployed at the Gelora Senayan, which also covers Jl. Asia Afrika on which the hotel is located.
"For the time-being, we could only serve 100 people (including the agency staff and security guards)," Lia said.
When asked on the latest progress in settling the hotel's debt with the city administration, Lia hastily shook her head and said it was not her place to comment on the dispute.
As reported earlier, the management of the 40-story hotel was slapped with the Rp 20.5 billion fine last year for building the hotel two-and-a-half times higher than its permits allowed. (bsr)