Workers complain to LBH

Workers complain to LBH

JAKARTA (JP): Fifteen people representing 170 workers in
dispute with the management of their company, run by the Enteos
Club, are seeking help from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute
(LBH).

LBH told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the complainants, who
have worked for PT Ilmu Inti Swadaya since 1993, are demanding
outstanding payment from the Enteos Club.

Workers' spokesperson Pemmy Waluyo said that Enteos Club had
paid them in installments since December 1994, rather than
monthly, as required by law.

The dispute began when the Enteos Club failed to pay a Rp 3.5
billion (around US$1.5 million) electricity bill to PT Mulia
Perdana Pacific, owner of the premises used by Ilmu Inti Swadaya.

No electricity

It ended with all electrical devices and telephone lines being
cut off by Mulia Perdana Pacific. The club operated without
electricity and telephones from Dec. 13, 1994 to May 7, 1995.

However, all workers were asked to turn up every day during
the period without telephones or electricity. "The workers
received only their base pay in installments without any interest
during that period. This is against the law," LBH's statement
said.

From May 7. to Oct. 31. 1995 the company reopened with all its
utilities, but the workers still received only their basic pay
and in installments.

On Nov. 1 of last year the owner of the building cut off the
electricity and phone lines to Ilmu Inti Swadaya a second time.
The management again asked the workers to come into the office
every day despite the lack of facilities.

Mrs. Linda J. Tani, president of the Enteos Club, said in
December of last year that Ilmu Inti Swadaya was no longer
operational and that the club could not afford to pay the
workers' wages. The workers then went to Linda for clarification
about their pay, but got unsatisfactory answers.

On Tuesday (Jan. 23, 1996), at a meeting between the workers
and the Enteos Club management, Linda gave each worker Rp 200,000
in severance pay. The money is to be given in two installments,
Rp 100,000 on Feb. 29 and another Rp 100,000 on March 31.

The employees refused to sign a letter agreeing to the
payment. They also refused to resign.

The workers then went to LBH, demanding that the Enteos Club
pay their salaries from November 1995 to January 1996. They also
want the management to provide them with severance pay and
interest on the part of their salaries that was not paid to them.
(sur)