Papuan workers left stranded, unpaid

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