Workers ask for dismissal

Workers ask for dismissal

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Nineteen workers at PT Rotan
Sulawesi, a subsidiary of the Poleko group of companies owned by
business tycoon and human rights campaigner A.A. Baramuli, have
asked to be sacked and demanded compensation.

The workers from the departments of shipping, production,
warehouse, finance and security have been inactive since Dec. 11
following a decline in productivity. They have not received their
salaries or other benefits.

"It would be better if the company just fired us than let us
go on like this for months," one of the workers said. "We have
families to feed. If they fire us, they would have to pay us
severance money."

The 19 workers have been employed at the company from six to
eight years.

The company's personnel officer, Saidy, said the managers have
decided to "make the workers nonactive," citing high production
costs. He said the company would pay the workers' salaries as
soon as "the money from the central office is here". (30/swe)