Mayora workers seek legal advice

JAKARTA (JP): At least 40 representatives of 1,500 workers laid off by their employer, food producer PT Mayora Indah, visited the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute on Friday to seek legal advice on the dismissal.

The workers' spokesman, identified only as Tono, said they were dismissed with a severance payout equivalent to only one- months salary for joining a labor strike for two weeks at the company's compound in Jatake area in Tangerang.

"We strongly reject the dismissals, as according to existing labor regulations, we have the right to go on strike," Tono said.

He said during the two-week strike, the workers demanded a 30 percent increase in their wage of Rp 230,000 (US$28.75) a month.

He said the workers also demanded the company, which produces various food products, including the popular candies Kopiko and Bang Bang, increase meal and shift allowances.

The strike was launched to protest a measure imposed by the company obliging female workers who wished to take menstruation leave to obtain approval from the company's medical clinic, a worker, Yati, said.

Yati said females attending the clinic to request the leave were required to show their genitals, as well as pay between Rp 500 and Rp 1,500.

"It's very embarrassing. We were asked to queue and drop our pants. The doctor inspected our genitals."

The head of the worker division of the legal aid institute, Surya Tjandra, deplored the company's measure.

"It's very inhuman. The female workers have the right to take menstruation leave for two days a month, according to the law," Surya said

He said he would accompany the workers to report the case to the Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idries. (jun)