Workers in Batam demand pay rise

BATAM, Riau: A strike by 1,600 employees of PT Foster Electric Indonesia ended on Thursday after the company agreed to allow a third party to mediate in the dispute.

The Pekanbaru Committee for the Settlement of Labor Disputes (P4D) will mediate.

PT Foster's Solidarity Action Labor Union deputy leader Guntoro said the workers would resume work on Friday.

Thursday's strike brought production at the company to a halt. It is not known how much the company lost due to the strike.

The workers are demanding that the company pay them according to the Batam minimum wage of Rp 602,000 (US$70) per month and provide them with housing, meal and transportation allowances.

PT Foster Electric Indonesia produces speakers for TVs and radios. -- JP