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)