'RCTI' postpones staff dismissals

JAKARTA (JP): Privately owned television station RCTI decided to postpone planned dismissals following a meeting with employees on Wednesday.

The station's public relations manager, Eduard Depari, said the dismissals were postponed until an agreement could be reached between management and employees.

"We agreed to postpone the layoffs after we talked with the employees' representatives, who urged the planned dismissals be canceled," Eduard told Antara on Wednesday.

He said that in the meeting, which was attended by Alex Komara, the station's director of operations, the employees were urged to understand the station's financial difficulties.

According to Eduard, dismissals were the station's final option after struggling to survive the past two years amid the economic crisis.

"We have put in place efficiency measures, including halting the purchase of foreign films, temporarily capping salaries, cutting the directors' salaries and giving no salaries to the company's commissioners," he said.

However, Eduard said the station might dismiss 20 percent of its 620 regular employees, not the 30 percent which had been announced earlier.

Separately, five dismissed RCTI employees went to the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute on Thursday for assistance.

Christina Rini, a lawyer at the institute, said an employee from the station's inventory department was dismissed without severance pay.

"We would like to invite management to discuss the matter," Rini told The Jakarta Post.

On Wednesday, three people claiming to represent 80 RCTI employees also visited the institute seeking legal advice. (jun)