Shoe factory workers demand ouster of divisional heads

TANGERANG (JP): Hundreds of the 5,700 work force of PT Doson Indonesia that produces Nike shoes staged a noisy but peaceful rally in their factory at Legok here on Saturday, demanding the management immediately fire five divisional heads at the firm.

The workers' spokesman, Yasir, told reporters that the five executives had brought nothing but losses to the company and caused unrest among the workers.

According to Yasir, general affairs division head Raimond and human resources division head Ananta, for example, were never accessible to the employees and never conveyed workers' demands to the management and this then resulted in Saturday's massive rally.

"The five divisional heads allocated a daily meal allowance for us at Rp 1,000 per head instead of Rp 1,700 per head as had been agreed by the company's president," he said.

The five division heads, Yasir added, should then be dismissed as soon as possible.

"Otherwise, they would always cheat the management which, in turn, would make the workers unhappy," he reminded.

In response to the workers' complaints, the company's president Yang gave no direct answers to the protesters as to whether the five executives would be dismissed or not but asked the agreement of the workers to allow the management 10 days to find new men for the five positions.

In his opinion, Yang said, the five staff had built a good relationship with the workers and the management until the workers voiced their dissatisfaction in the rally for which he expressed his gratitude to the employees.

Doson Indonesia produces a wide range of Nike footwear, mostly for exports.

Asked to comment on the workers' accusations, Raimond said he had none to make but would accept any decision made by the company.

But he said he hoped that all the proceedings of the matter of his dismissal would be in accordance with the existing regulations and laws on workers rights.

The rally at the Doson factory ended peacefully under the watchful eyes of hundreds of the local security personnel led by Legok police chief, First Lt. Parmo.

"We're happy with their peaceful rally as the protesting employees only sat down in the compound in groups without any misdeeds," Parmo said. (41/bsr)