Workers strike over wages

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