Sunter factory workers protest over Idul Fitri bonus

Sunter factory workers protest over Idul Fitri bonus

JAKARTA (JP): About 30 workers of PT Nusantara Teknik Dimensi Sentosa, a heavy equipment factory in Sunter, North Jakarta, filed a complaint with city council yesterday.

The employees complained that the company has not yet fulfilled its obligation to give them Idul Fitri bonuses, as well as their salaries. They also complained that management has fired eight workers without clear reasons.

"The management of the company has refused to pay our salary, as well as Idul Fitri bonuses," Nasmi, one of the employees, told City Council's Commission E, which is in charge of people's welfare, during the hearing.

He said salaries for the company's 35 workers ranges from Rp 35,000 to Rp 90,000 per week.

Nasmi said the company had promised to give them Idul Fitri bonuses and their weekly salary on Feb. 28, but on that day it refused to pay. Because management has never explained the reason for their action, all workers went on strike on March 13.

The company did not react positively to the workers' protest because management refused to hold negotiations or meet with the workers.

"Then we filed a complaint with the North Jakarta office of the manpower ministry but management did not show up for a meeting held by the office," Nasmi said.

He added that management has fired a total of eight workers, without severance pay or clear explanations.

"We only demand that the company officials obey the regulation, giving a clear explanation for the dismissal and giving those fired severance pay," Nasmi said, adding that the company fired workers who they considered as masterminding the employees' actions.

The workers said that, currently, there are no workers working for the factory. "I don't care if the company fires me," Sutrisno, who has been working for the company for three years said.

Chairman of the commission, Atje Mulyadi, assured the workers that the commission would summon the management of the company to explain the matter to the commission. (yns)