Jobless court UI students

JAKARTA (JP): People who have lost their jobs due to the economic crisis have found that students are sympathetic to their plight.

Dozens of workers from Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi flocked to the University of Indonesia (UI) campus in Depok, just south of here, where they sought ideas on what to do next.

"I have sought help from numerous institutions but have only been offered empty promises," said Sumartini, 31, who was dismissed from her job in a Tangerang company three months ago without severance pay.

"We came here because the university has declared itself to be the Campus for People's Struggle."

Accompanied by activists from various Non-Governmental Organizations in Jakarta and Bandung, they told student activists of their misery after losing their jobs.

The unemployed people and NGO activists were met by activists of the UI Forum for Women's Action.

The dismissed workers, NGO activists and students called on the government to take action against employers who dismissed their employees without observing the proper procedures, Antara reported. (pan)