'Prospek' journalists seek fair deal

JAKARTA (JP): A group of 25 journalists and employees of the financially troubled Prospek magazine had sought help from the House of Representatives yesterday to get their 11 months' salaries and clarification of their employment status.

They complained that they have been neglected by the management of PT Indowarta Pasar Media, which publishes the economic weekly magazine.

They charged that the company's president director Adi Sutrisno had not paid their salaries since Prospek stopped publishing in June last year for financial trouble.

The management did not declare the newsmagazine bankrupt either although it had financially collapsed, leaving their employment status unclear.

"We have not received our salaries for the past 11 months." Azwar Samin, the group spokesman told members of House Commission I overseeing information affairs.

The group members were met by commission chairperson Aisyah Aminy, deputy commission chief B.N. Marbun and commission members Dalam Sinuraya and Zamharir.

"Since June, our fate has been uncertain. We are neither hired nor fired," he said.

Magazine journalist Taufiqurahman said the problem dated back to 1994 when a conflict within the management erupted. Senior managers and journalists had left one by one, he said.

Since then the remaining 42 reporters and supporting staff have managed the magazine themselves. "We worked as reporters as well as businessmen," he said.

The 42 people brought the case to court in December. They are demanding Rp 660 million (US$290,000) for seven months worth of salaries, bonus and severance payments and Rp 1 billion for immaterial losses.

Legislator Aisyah Aminy said the commission could not do much to help them because the problem has been brought to court.(01)