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)