Workers protest minimum wage

BOGOR (JP): Some 60 workers of a garment company staged a rally on Monday demanding an increase in salary, which is still below the government-set minimum wage.

Workers of soccer uniform producer PT Budi Mustika Garment, who marched from the factory on Jl Roda Sukasari to the Bogor Council building on Jl. Kapten Muslihat, said that besides a low salary, they had also not received any overtime.

Protest coordinator Iwan Ridwansyah said the workers had staged protests since Dec. 16. "Now we are protesting again because city councilors promised us last Friday to take us to a meeting with the factory owner."

The protesters were received by two council members, Agus Joko Mulyono and Eman Sulaeman.

Iwan told the two councilors that their daily wage was only between Rp 3,000 and Rp 4,000 for a 12-hour working day starting at 6 a.m.

"And we have not received any overtime," he said, adding that a regulation recently enacted entitles each worker to Rp 9,000 per day if they reach a daily production target of 700 pieces of clothing.

Whereas the workers can produce only 300 to 400 pieces a day, he said.

Besides a low salary, workers also complained about the owner who always scolded them on unclear grounds.

The owner of the company, Yosef, said he had met all the workers' demands, including paying overtime.

"The reason of the protest is because the company says they should submit their identity cards and a letter of good conduct from the police to complete their personal records," Yosef said.

Iwan acknowledged that the workers refused to fill the requirement. (ind/21)