PT DI workers march to Jakarta

BANDUNG: Some 4,000 employees of ailing state aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) marched to Jakarta on Monday to attend a hearing of the company's labor dispute at the manpower ministry.

"We would like to ensure that the hearing will free from government intervention," said labor union secretary A.M. Bone.

The first hearing of the industrial dispute settlement between 6,000 laid-off employees and PT DI is scheduled for Tuesday.

The government approved the company's decision last year to lay off the employees in order to save the cash-strapped company and allocated US$50 million for severance pay.

The employees have persistently challenged their dismissal. -- Antara