Shoe factory workers go on strike

TANGERANG (JP): Some 4,500 employees of a shoe factory in Balaraja have gone on strike and staged a noisy protest in their factory compound to demand their annual Idul Fitri bonus and holidays.

The employees of PT Tae-Hwa Indonesia (THI) on Jl. Raya Serang which produces Fila and Langford footwear threatened to continue their massive strike unless the management met their demands.

"We want the company to pay us the same amount of THR (Idul Fitri bonus) as in previous years, and exclude the Idul Fitri holidays from the regular annual holidays," one of the protesters said in a statement during the Monday's rally, which started at 8 a.m.

The protesting workers also demanded no reduction of their bonuses, a significant rise in their meal allowances, menstruation leave for female workers and the reactivation of the factory's health clinic.

"If our demands are not met, we'll stay on strike," one of the female workers yelled to the crowd.

After a series of negotiations held between the representatives of workers and the management, almost all of the workers' demands were finally granted by the company, which had just received the ISO 9002 certificate.

According to the head of the company's human resources development M. Jazuli, THI would for example give the workers the same Idul Fitri bonus as last year and would hand it over to the employees next week or at the latest a week before Idul Fitri.

"But the size of bonus would differ from one worker to another, depending on their length of service," Jazuli said.

The bonus would be 100 percent of the salary for those who have worked for one year, 225 percent for two years with the company, and 325 percent for those who have worked for three years and more, he said.

The company also agreed to increase the daily meal allowance from Rp 1,000 to Rp 1,500 and to exclude the Idul Fitri holidays -- this year from Jan. 16 through Jan. 23 -- from regular holidays.

"We also promise to accommodate female workers with days off as menstruation leave," Jazuli added.

The protesters greeted the management decision with loud applause before peacefully dispersing. (41/emf)