Newspaper workers file complaint

Newspaper workers file complaint

JAKARTA (JP): About 20 workers and journalists of The
Indonesia Times English daily, which ceased publication in
January, went to the National Commission on Human Rights on
Tuesday to complain about their status of employment.

The workers' spokesman, Jacob Sofyan, said about 100 workers
of the daily were unclear about their status since the newspaper
stopped publishing.

"We have not been paid since March," Sofyan, who is also
chairman of the daily's workers cooperative, said, urging the
commission to help settle the problem.

He said the workers had frequently asked the management of PT
Marga Pers Mandiri, which published the newspaper, to clarify the
matter but they had received no satisfactory explanation.

"We ask for severance pay according to the regulation if the
company wants to dismiss us. If the firm doesn't have any funds,
the company's assets could be sold and the proceeds given to the
workers," he said.

He said the company was 31 percent owned by the Golkar's
executive board, 30 percent by Yayasan Abdi Bangsa, the publisher
of Republika daily, 20 percent by the workers, 6 percent by the
workers cooperative of the Ministry of Information and the
remaining 13 percent by two individuals, SK. Wibowo and Djamal
Ali.

Commission members Soegiri and M. Salim told the workers that
they would send letters to Golkar and the company's president Ary
Marjono to ask for clarification. (jun)