Workers demand their jobs back

BOGOR (JP): Some 2,500 fired workers of textile producer PT Roda Vivatex staged a protest at the Bogor Council on Monday, demanding councilors take up their cause for reemployment.

They met with Atik Zaenuddin, the chairman of the council's Commission E for social welfare.

Coordinator of the protesters Baharuddin said the company fired the workers several days ago following protests which began on April 11 at the factory on Jl. Pahlawan in Citereup.

The workers earlier demanded that the company increase their wages to meet the government-regulated regional minimum wage of Rp 286,000 (US$38) per month. They also demanded the company increase their meal and shift allowances.

"But the company dismissed the workers who were involved in the protest several days ago without severance pay," he said.

A councilor, Tasiman, promised the workers that they would get their jobs back. (21/asa)