Sit-in continues at Cibadak shoe factory

TANGERANG (JP): About 6,000 shoemakers at a Cibadak factory, in the Cikupa district here, entered yesterday the second day of their strike.

After Monday's sit-in at the factory, their employer met strikers' demands by firing two personnel managers, bringing forward the pay day and promising to open a workers insurance fund.

But the protesters said that the two factory managers, Bambang Sardoko and Akhmad Suhardo, were still working at the site yesterday.

According to the workers, the two executives -- in particular Bambang, who was attacked by angry protesters during Monday's strike -- had allegedly broken the law by firing employees without proper reason and adequate compensation.

It was the personnel managers' flippant approach to firing staff that prompted the workers to strike, they said.

The protesters demanded the insurance fund be set up quickly.

"We need the measures to come into effect soon," one of the protesters said. "We no longer want to be cheated."

A female employee added: "We'll never return to work until our demands are fulfilled by management."

The factory, which produces Eagle-brand shoes, belongs to PT Garuda Indawa, PT Kostra Mas Jaya and PT Bima Dongin Sport.

The management outlined their decision to meet workers' demands in a letter signed Monday by general manager Kim Gwang Do and director Seo Haeng Won.

The letter was addressed to the workers, the local manpower office and the workers' association.

The workers began yesterday their second sit-in at the factory's compound about 8 a.m. No violations were recorded during yesterday's strike. (41/bsr)