Regent to probe misuse of wages

TANGERANG (JP): Regent Saifullah AR promised yesterday to look into reports that a subdistrict chief had embezzled money from the wages of laborers taking part in a government-sponsored project.

Saifullah said he would summon Kresek subdistrict chief Bejo Mulyono following a demonstration in which the workers accused the official of unlawfully deducting their wages.

"We won't hesitate to take action against him if the workers' claim is well-founded," Saifullah told journalists.

The aggrieved workers claimed that Bejo had cut their Rp 7,500 daily wage to Rp 5,000.

The workers participated in an 80-day labor intensive program to repair irrigation ditches, drainage canals and other public facilities. The scheme was designed to alleviate some of the hardship the participants have suffered at the hands of the economic crisis.

The workers alleged that the district head increased the number of workers recruited from each village included in the scheme from approximately 80 to 105 so that he could embezzle more government funds.

Labor intensive projects have been implemented in 30 villages in 17 districts throughout Tangerang.

The protesters estimate that the district head deducted Rp 1.1 million a day or Rp 6.6 billion a week from their wage packets. (41/jun)