Papuan workers left stranded, unpaid

TANGERANG: As many as 163 workers of PT Prabu Alaska, a plywood producer in Tanjung Purkadi, East Pakpak district in Papua, who have been living for over a month in Karawaci and are now facing starvation as they have run out of money.

"We are waiting for our former employer who still has our money," said Jerry, one of the workers, who claimed to represent a total of 1,400 workers of the company who were laid off in July.

They are now staying at the occupied house of PT Prabu Alaska director Po Suwandi in Permata Milenium housing complex in Karawaci, Tangerang. Suwandi, they allege had not paid their salaries for nine months, including severance pay amounting to Rp 21 billion.

They found Suwandi's Karawaci house on Oct. 27. Since Suwandi had left the house, the workers decided they would occupy it.

"Each of the workers paid for their own trip by boat, a journey of three days from Pakpak," Jerry said.

"We won't leave this place until we get our money," he added. -- JP