Workers protest over dismissals

Workers protest over dismissals

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: At least 500 workers from two
different companies protested at the South Sulawesi provincial
legislative council on Thursday, demanding fair treatment from
their respective companies.

Some 200 workers from cashew processing firm PT Setia Jita
Pratama, who have been camping out in the grounds of the
legislature for the past three days, protested the firm's
unilateral decision to dismiss 207 employees on allegedly
unreasonable grounds.

"The reason given by management that the company is bankrupt
is groundless as we can all see that it is still operating.

"The last word on whether the company is bankrupt should not
come from the company but from the commercial court," Syahrini,
one of the workers, said.

Meanwhile, Alim Israk of the National Front for the Struggle
of Indonesian Workers (FNPBI) who accompanied some 300 workers
from rattan exporter PT Kali Jaya, said the workers were
demanding that the contract-based work system applied by the firm
be annulled.

"The workers want the system abolished as it's inhumane ...
they're assets of the company so it shouldn't treat them in such
an authoritarian manner," he said. (27/imn)