Shoe workers demand wage hike

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)