Workers condemn use of force

JAKARTA: Around 60 workers of transportation company PT Terang Anugerah Andalas Transportasi, staged a rally at the office of the Minister of Manpower and Transportation Jacob Nuwa Wea on Thursday, to protest the use of force and intimidation by the company in dealing with the workers' demands.

The workers said that the company had not allowed them to enter the company's compound at Kragilan, Serang, in Banten province, for two weeks and hired thugs in an attempt to intimidate them, Antara news agency reported.

The workers had demanded the company provide a social safety program for them.

They also said the company failed to pay transportation fees, meal allowances and overtime pay.

According to them, both the workers and management had met five times, but no agreement had been reached.-JP