Workers demands met after 4-day strike

JAKARTA (JP): After four days of striking, workers from PT Dunia Popular Textile, a textile and garment factory on Jl. Muara Karang in North Jakarta, had their demands met by the company's management yesterday.

Around 150 employees of the company went on strike Monday demanding that the company pay Rp 800 (36 US cents) per day for their transportation expenses and also extra payment for night shift workers.

They also demanded that the company provide them with a one- hour rest during night shifts, the right to have menstruation leave for female workers, religious holiday bonuses, salary raises, detailed salary receipts and a Musholla (place of worship for Moslems).

On the first day of the strike one of the company's managers, Tjie Hie, asked five worker representatives to discuss their demands peacefully.

The strike was closely monitored by officers of the North Jakarta military command.

However, the employees refused the manager's proposal and asked to be represented by at least 20 persons. Knowing that an agreement could not be reached, the employees then went home.

On the third day, the workers marched to the company's office.

The management agreed to receive 20 representatives but wanted the meeting to be held inside the factory. However this was rejected by the workers. Fearing intimidation, they requested that the meeting be held in the company courtyard.

Once again, no agreement was reached and the workers continued their strike.

On the fourth day of the strike, the workers agreed to meet the management in the company's office. The meeting started at 11 a.m and after three hours of talk the management granted all of the workers' demands.

According to Jagat Yudha, an official of the Indonesian Center of Workers Struggle (PPBI), an Non-Governmental Organization, the management of PT Dunia Popular Textile agreed to give their workers a transportation fee of Rp 400 a day.

He said that each worker will receive a salary receipt with details of their income, two days menstruation leave each month and extra payment of Rp 750 for each night shift worker.

Jagat also said that the company's management has promised a one-hour rest for night shift workers, one month salary on each religious (holiday) day and to build a Musholla.(mas)