Troubled factory will be renovated: Management
Troubled factory will be renovated: Management
JAKARTA (JP): Executives of PT Sarkis Pacific Indonesia, whose
factory in Tangerang was burnt down by angry employees on
Tuesday, have planned to immediately renovate the plant and begin
production again.
"We hope that the factory's renovation could be completed in
30 to 60 days, but it's subject to our financing bank," President
Director Steve Jamkoujian told reporters here yesterday.
Located at a five-hectare site on Jl. Raya Mauk KM.6 at Desa
Karet in Sepatan district, the factory, which produces sports
sandals for the overseas market, was flamed and ravaged by almost
all of its 2,400 workers due to the belated distribution of their
bi-weekly wages, amounting to Rp 30,000 per worker.
According to Nurhadi Karis, the company's general affairs and
personnel manager, one of three production units was totally
burned, with the remaining two seriously damaged.
"One of the machines, which costs about Rp 2 billion, was also
fractured," Nurhadi said.
Ready-to-export items at the plant were also destroyed by the
workers, he said.
There were no fatalities reported. Jamkoujian estimated a
total loss of billions of rupiah.
"The investigation of the mishap is still under investigation
by the local police," said director George S. Wartanian.
In the meantime, all of the 2,400 workers were given temporary
leaves, said Nurhadi.
It's unclear whether the company will provide compensation for
the sudden temporary leaves, because the firm's executives and
workers' representatives are still discussing the issue under the
eyes of the local authorities.
The fire at the factory occurred around 1 p.m., just an hour
late from the deadline set by the management for the payment
distribution.
A factory security guard witnessed the angry mob rushing into
the plant after smashing the windows. He saw the fire a few
minutes later.
At least four fire engines went to the scene.
"If the workers had been willing to be a little patient, they
would have gotten the money by 3 p.m.," said Wartanian.
Reports said that none of the company's executives were at the
site to negotiate with the workers.
"We're in Jakarta, waiting for the money," Jamkoujian said.
A reliable source, who refused to be named, told The Jakarta
Post yesterday that a employee at the factory identified as Jacky
might be the one responsible for the incident after he failed to
calm down the workers.
"He has not contacted us since the accident took place,"
Wartanian said.
According to Jamkoujian, the delayed wages, totaling Rp 51
million, represented only less than half of the workers bi-weekly
wages, as a large portion had been paid a few days earlier.
He denied local media reports that the company had completely
suspended the workers' bi-weekly wages.
The company on Thursday distributed the delayed salaries to
its workers, Wartanian said.
PT Sarkis Pacific Indonesia, set up in 1990 with a capital
investment of Rp 30 billion, is 95 percent owned by Jamkoujian, a
Lebanese, and the remaining 5 percent by his local partner.
The unnamed source told the Post that the delay of wages had
been going on since January, mainly due to the company's problem
with its financing bank, BII.
When asked about the matter, Jamkoujian refused to comment,
saying that the company's financing bank was "very much
cooperative".
The source also said that at least 20 workers have been named
as those who incited the workers to destroy the factory.
"We're planning to sue them if they're found guilty," said
Nurhadi. (bsr)