Men sacked for scrutineering

PURWOREJO, Central Java: Two men claimed yesterday they had lost their jobs for volunteering to scrutinize for opposition parties.

They said their dismissals were unfair because they had been trying to help the election process, and had no idea that their actions would cause grievances.

Sartono, 20, who works part-time for the Purworejo public sanitary department, said he was dismissed yesterday for scrutinizing for the Indonesian Democratic Party. He had been earning Rp 9,900 (US$4) a week at the sanitary department.

Suroto, 39, who had scrutinized for the United Development Party said he had got no severance pay although he had worked for a private company for years.

"I was given my wage and told that it was my last pay," he said. "My boss asked me, 'You know your mistake, don't you?'" (wah)