Over 700 workers denied wages

Over 700 workers denied wages

JAKARTA (JP): Over 700 West Java workers urged the National Commission of Human Rights yesterday to make a government-owned plantation company pay them their past 20 months wages, which it has denied them.

Twenty three people claiming to represent 706 workers of PD Gemah Ripah, Garut, told commission members that the firm has not paid their wages since April 1993, for unconvincing reasons.

"The management of PD Gemah Ripah has told us that it has gone bankrupt," delegation leader Koko Koswara told commission members Munawir Sjadzali and Soegiri.

He said all the workers could not accept the reason and would like to know the company's real financial condition because the company's financial statement was made without being audited.

"PD Gemah Ripah has only granted us weekly loans ranging from Rp 2,000 (US87 cents) to Rp 5,000 ($2.2) per week since then," Koko said.

He said the firm's management kept the workers hopes for their wages alive by giving them loans they may repay when the company regains its financial strength and is able to pay their regular salaries.

Munawir told the workers that the commission was concerned about the workers' plight and promised to send a fact finding team to Garut.

He called on the workers to remain calm and avoid any actions that may provoke violence.

According to Koko, the workers used to get Rp 2,000 to Rp 2,500 per day, or Rp 75,000 to Rp 80,000 per month.

He said that the money lent to them by the company did not cover their daily expenses, let alone pay for their children's school fees or for medical expenses.

"Some of our children had to drop out of school and some of us cannot afford to see the doctor," Koko said.

The workers have brought their plight to the company management, ruling political organization Golkar, related government officials and the House of Representatives in Jakarta but all ended in vain. (imn)