PDAM Jaya workers seek pay hike

JAKARTA (JP): Some 800 workers of city-owned water company PDAM Jaya staged a noisy protest in front of the company's headquarters in Central Jakarta on Thursday to demand an increase in their monthly wages.

The rally, which began at 8:30 a.m., ended peacefully in the afternoon. A meeting between the protesters and PDAM Jaya management took place, but no statement on the results of the meeting was made available.

During their protest on Jl. Penjernihan in Pejompongan, some of the employees also demanded an end to PDAM Jaya's business cooperation with its two foreign partners.

"Kick out the foreign investors," the protesters shouted.

The workers, attired in their blue uniforms, waved banners and posters. Some of the posters read: "We demand equality in earnings", and "Hand over our rights".

PDAM Jaya has some 3,000 workers deployed at several installation sites throughout Jakarta.

"Over 2,000 of the workers have been assigned to work for the two foreign partners, PT TPJ and PT Palyja," said Idris, one of the protesters.

As a consequence, PDAM workers assigned to the two foreign firms receive higher salaries compared to employees at PDAM Jaya.

About one hour after the protest began, 25 of the protesters met with PDAM Jaya director Rama Boedi.

During the meeting, the protesters urged Rama Boedi to fight for the workers and to give them guarantees they would not be laid off or given other sanctions for holding the protest.

Rama Boedi said he was ready to fight for the workers' rights as long as the employees strengthened their union.

"For example, union members should have union cards, so they have power of law against the two foreign firms," he said. (01)