McDonald's Indonesia to send more staff abroad: Bambang

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)