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)