Workers stage protest on toll road

TANGERANG (JP): At least 1,300 workers of the biscuit company PT Mayora Indah staged a protest for wage increases on the Jakarta-Merak toll road on Tuesday after nine earlier demonstrations went unheeded.

The protesters held a free speech forum on the busy lanes in Bitung area, about 3 kilometers from their factory at Pasir Jaya village in Jatiuwung district, causing major traffic jams for about two hours.

"State-owned toll road management company PT Jasa Marga was forced to close the roads for about two hours to prevent any unexpected incidents," David, an official of the firm, said.

"They just tried to attract the attention of officials of the Ministry of Manpower, who were scheduled to visit their factory, but failed to show up after they waited until 10 a.m.," Second Lt. Rolly Laheba of the local rapid police unit said.

Rolly said that traffic passing the area from Merak to Jakarta was detoured to the Balaraja Barat areas, while the opposite direction was detoured to the Karawaci area.

After a negotiation with security personnel from the Tangerang Police precinct and military district, the protesters dispersed themselves in stages.

The protesters said they demanded that the management raise their daily wages of Rp 7,500 by 30 percent and daily meal allowance from Rp 1,000 to Rp 4,000 and presence allowance from Rp 500 to Rp 1,500 a day. The company has thus far agreed to raise wages only by 18 percent and hike the meal allowances to Rp 2,500 per day.

Separately, about 300 workers of the thread spinning company PT Fiverindo Inti Prima also staged a similar protest by visiting the Tangerang office of the Ministry of Manpower.

The protesters said they demanded from their company, which was located in Cikupa, improvement of their welfare, including increases in their wages, meal allowances and other allowances.

The protest, which was also attended by the head of the company's personnel department, Paulus, ran smoothly. (41/hhr)