Shoe workers demand wage hike

BOGOR (JP): About 40 employees of shoe producer PT Prima Agung Sentosa protested in front the company's office in Empang village here on Friday demanding their salaries be increased.

"We're just demanding that our wages be raised from Rp 750 to Rp 1,000 per pair of shoes," protest coordinator Nyoman Suarte said.

"Every day we only receive an average of Rp 13,000 per worker. That's certainly not enough because the company does not provide us benefits, such as a transportation, insurance, food money and medical care," he said.

He said the employees produced around 750 pairs of shoes each day.

"The shoes are exported ... so the company must be making enough of a profit to give us raises," Nyoman said.

The company's personnel manager, Darwin, said management could not increase the employees' salaries because of the country's economic crisis.

The two sides have not yet reached an agreement on the matter. (21/edt)