Intervention vital for overdue wages

PANDEGLANG, Banten (JP): Construction workers for a market project in Pagelaran subdistrict here protested at the regent's office on Tuesday, demanding the administration help to ensure that their employer pay their wages and holiday bonuses.

In a meeting with deputy regent Mudjio, the workers complained that the company had not paid their wages and bonuses, totaling Rp 54 million (US$5,684).

As a result, the workers complained, they could not return to visit their home towns for holidays.

According to the chairman of the Association of Indonesian Employers, Aweng Maswari, who accompanied Mudjio, the project was funded by the Japanese-based Overseas Economic Corporation Fund (OECF).

"Up to Rp 230 million ($24,210.5) should have been allocated for material costs, administration costs and wages," he said as quoted by Antara

Mudjio, Aweng and chairman of the Indonesian Builders Association (Gapensi) Iding, promised the workers that they would discuss the issue with the company responsible. (hdn)