McDonald's Indonesia to send more staff abroad: Bambang

JAKARTA (JP): Following the success of sending 115 staff to Middle Eastern countries and the United States, McDonald's Indonesia will send 100 more employees to Saudi Arabia, its president Bambang N. Rachmadi said on Friday.

The new group -- some of whom will be deployed at McDonald's outlets in Mecca -- is expected to leave Indonesia at the end of this year, Bambang said on the sidelines of the launching of McDonald's Indonesia's new meal product.

"I'm happy that we could send more of our staff overseas where they could get monthly earnings from eight to 10 times higher than their salary here," said Bambang.

Workers, all of whom are hired as employees and managers of McDonald's outlets in the respective countries, receive free apartments with amenities such as TV sets and provisions including free coffee and tea.

He insisted his company received nothing either from the workers or the foreign outlets for sending the employees abroad.

"I only urge them not to forget to, if possible, bring their relatives for a job. I also ask them not to return to this country at the moment since the overall situation has yet to become completely fine," Bambang said.

He added that most of the workers were on three-year work contracts. Most have worked for two years in local McDonald's.

Bambang said the fast food franchise closed 30 of its 100 outlets across the country by the end of last year. Particularly hard hit were those located in Jakarta, with some destroyed in last year's riots or suffering lower sales during the prolonged economic crisis.

"We had no choice," Bambang said.

He added that sending employees abroad was a means to avoid dismissals.

"Following the closure of our 30 outlets, we sadly had to dismiss 2,200 of our staff," he added.

In early October last year, 39 of his employees and managers were assigned to 19 McDonald's outlets in Kuwait.

They received a two-year contract with a monthly salary of between US$215 and $250 for staff members, including kitchen staff, and between $485 and $1,000 for managers.

He said the workers also received transportation and health allowances and bonuses. (bsr)