Temporary workers protest uniform change
Temporary workers protest uniform change
TANGERANG (JP): Some 675 temporary employees with the
Tangerang office of the City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ),
brought on Friday their grievance to the local chapter of the
Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI).
The complaint, filed by seven representing officials, opposed
the agency's new regulation that they procure new uniforms for Rp
120,000 (US$17) each.
"How can we afford to buy this new uniform when we have never
been properly paid for our services," Arifin, one of the seven
representatives, said.
"Most of us have been working as helpers at the Tangerang
office of the Public Land Transportation Agency from five to 15
years, while some have for 25 years.
"And our daily income is between Rp 5,000 and Rp 10,000 for a
working period from 7 a.m. till 10 p.m.," he added.
The ruling on the new uniforms was issued by Rachmad Hadis,
the chairman of the DLLAJ Tangerang office. It has been in effect
since Feb. 29, 2000.
With the new ruling, each temporary employee has to wear a
white short-sleeved shirt with the letters "D L L A J"
embroidered on the left sleeve and the emblem of the Tangerang
administration on its right. Employees must also wear dark blue
pants.
The old uniform consisted of dark blue pants, a light blue
short-sleeved shirt with the emblem of the Ministry of
Communications on its left sleeve.
Temporary employees collect levies from drivers of public
minivans and city buses at the bus and minivan terminals of
Cimone, Ciledug, Cikokol, Cibodas Baru, Pasar Baru and Sewan.
"We're so sad because we've been working so hard, but we're
still exploited by the agency.
"Sometimes we have had to sell our chickens to pay for our
trip in to work," said Samsudi, another representative.
"The new ruling should be revoked. Otherwise, we'll go on
strike," he added.
As with the PWI Tangerang chapter, the employees are also
planning to stage a protest at the DLLAJ Tangerang office and
file a similar complaint with the Tangerang Legislative Council
soon.
"Although we've been working at the DLLAJ Tangerang office for
years, we can still be fired if we disobey this new ruling,"
Jaeni, another representative, said.
Separately, Rachmad Hadis said the new uniforms were part of
the agency's campaign to clean up its image after several
individuals illegally collected money from public minivan and
city bus drivers at night.
"We received reports that people in DLLAJ uniforms had asked
for 'tips' of between Rp 20,000 and Rp 50,000 from the drivers,"
he said.
"The new uniforms will help the agency in monitoring the
behavior of its officials."
"We'll dismiss any agency official taking illegal levies from
the drivers," he added.(41/imn)