Medan workers' protest goes on

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Hundreds of workers from 55 companies have flocked to the governor's office to demand reinstatement of a worker who was reportedly fired.

The workers' protest entered its 19th day on Tuesday following the dismissal of a worker from PT Gunung Gahapi Sakti.

The protesters said they also wanted the company to give its workers better welfare benefits.

The protesters accused the company of swindling social security money, totaling Rp 3.2 billion, which belonged to the workers.

No deal has been reached between the workers and the company.

"If the company ignores the workers' demands, we will continue our protest. We have support from 55 companies," said Alfian Panjaitan, coordinator of the protest.

The chairman of Independent Forum for Mabar-Belawan Workers' Aspirations, Syahril, threatened to stage a bigger protest if the workers' rights were denied.

R. Tambunan, head of the provincial manpower ministry office, said that the alleged embezzlement of the social security fund was being investigated by Medan Police. "Let's be patient and wait for the results," he said.

Mass worker protests led to vandalism which paralyzed the city's economy in April 1994. (39/sur)