Pensioners protest failed payments

Pensioners protest failed payments

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Hundreds of former employees of a state-
owned plantation company here demonstrated at the provincial
legislative council denouncing the company's failure to pay their
pension for six years.

Antara quoted some of the pensioners of the PTPN-II as saying
that those who were still paid joined the protest because they
only received up to Rp 16,800 (US$3) per month.

The protesters, from districts in Deli Serdang and Langkat
regencies, waved placards and posters saying: You rob us of our
pension rights. They also said that their situation was no better
than during the Dutch colonial period.

Councilor Agustman St. Basa promised to help the pensioners,
but asked them to be patient and not cause problems in the run-up
to People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) meeting next March. (swe)