Indonesian worker to recount plight

Indonesian worker to recount plight

SERANG, West Java: A shoe factory worker has gone to the
United States, financed by labor and human rights activists,
reportedly to settle the claims of her and other workers who have
been fired by her company.

A legislator in Jakarta welcomed the plan of Cicih Sukaesih, a
former employee at the Sung Hwa Dunia factory in Serang that made
world-renowned brand Nike sportswear, to recount her plight
abroad, saying it will remind the government about the labor
situation here.

"Let her go. It's her right," said Sunardjo of House
Commission VI for labor affairs.

Cicih used to earn US$1 a day in the factory. In 1991, the
officially-set minimum wage was raised to US$1.25, but the
factory refused to pay it. Some 600 workers went on strike but
were made to return to work by the company, helped by the
military and police.

In 1992, Cicih and 23 others who had led the strike for better
wages were fired. The International Herald Tribune reported on
Saturday that the factory, which has since been taken over by a
different operator and whose name has been changed to Eltri (also
under contract to Nike), has increased the wages but Cicih and
her colleagues have not been rehired.

Cicih left for America on Saturday and will reportedly stay
for two weeks. Her trip is being paid for by labor and human
rights activists who want Nike to settle the claims of the
workers and agree to independent monitoring as a safeguard
against abuses in its factories.

Suraji Idris of the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation
said he knew nothing of Cicih's trip, but felt that the move was
not necessary as Indonesian workers should settle their problems
at home.

An Eltri official, N. Setianto, refused to comment.

A labor rights advocate, who refused to be identified, only
confirmed Cicih's trip. (31)