T-shirt workers go on strike

T-shirt workers go on strike

TANGERANG (JP): Over 1,500 workers of T-shirt manufacturer PT
Franc Brother Sejati held a one-day strike Thursday to protest
the company's decision to cut their monthly wage Rp 4,000 each
for tax purposes.

Besides demanding the return of the deducted portion of their
wages, the employees also urged the company to provide allowances
to cover the cost of meals and health and transportation
expenses.

The strike started at 11 a.m. at the company's factory on Jl.
Raya Pasar Kemis and ended at 1 p.m.

One of the workers, Santari, said the tax deduction was
imposed on workers making more than Rp 139,000 per month to cover
income taxes required by the government.

He sharply criticized the company's decision, saying that even
before the wages were cut, the company's workers still did not
make enough to cover their daily needs.

"The company is paying us lower than the regional minimum wage
of Rp 198,000 a month," he said.

The company's factory manager, Hendro Wijaya, claimed the
management had already reversed its decision to make the
deductions on the same day the workers staged their protest.

"But the workers were not patient enough to wait for the
company's announcement for the termination," he told reporters.

Commenting on the workers' demand for more allowances, Hendro
said the company's benefit package already provided enough for
meals, transportation and health care.

The company adheres to regional minimum wage standards set by
the government, he added. (41/cst)