Workers strike over wages

TANGERANG: About 850 workers at garment manufacturer PT Hyun Indonesia on Jl. Telesonic No. 1, Jatiuwung, Tangerang, launched a massive strike on Monday. They rejected the company's plan to eliminate transportation and food allowances for workers following the increase in the minimum regional wage (UMR).

"We preferred to strike because we don't have any labor union to negotiate with the factory's management," one of the protesters said.

The workers gathered at the factory site early in the morning. Some just sat together while other chatted or sang. None of them entered the factory, causing a total halt of production.

Some workers said the factory management had agreed to increase their wages as stipulated by the Jakarta municipal administration. But the management planned to eliminate their transportation and food allowance.

Since the workers -- who usually receive Rp 1,500 (US cents 14.7) for food and Rp 1,200 for transportation daily -- rejected the cutting of their benefits, the management suspended the planned salary increase in January.

The Jakarta administration has stipulated that the minimum wage must increase from Rp 426,000 to Rp 490,000 per month. -- JP