Sugar factory workers threaten strike

Sugar factory workers threaten strike

JAKARTA: The country's four million sugar factory workers are
threatening to organize a strike and street rallies if the
government does not take necessary measures to protect domestic
sugar production.

Briefing the press after a meeting with the Minister of
Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea here on Monday, a
spokesperson for the Solidarity Forum for Federation of Sugar
Factory Workers (FSSPPGSI) said that street rallies were the best
option for them to express their disappointment.

"It is better for us to die protesting than to die (slowly due
to unemployment and starvation) because our factories are closed
down," FSSPPGSI treasurer Mintarsa told the press.

According to Mintarsa, low sugar prices, which now stand at Rp
2,640 per kilogram, have forced 13 sugar factories to close down
their operations.

According to one industry observer, most sugar factories need
to sell their product at around Rp 4,000 per kilogram to break
even.

"If this situation persists, the remaining 58 sugar factories
still operating will also collapse, threatening the lives of some
4 million workers or 17 million people if we include their
families," Mintarsa said.

Indonesia is currently importing sugar from Japan, South
Korea, South Africa, Bangladesh and Malaysia.

It was not clear if the workers were asking the government to
stop importing sugar or to impose higher duties on imported
sugar.