ID Nugroho, Surabaya – The recent dismissal by management of two contract-based workers at a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fast food restaurant here has been met with protests from labor unions.
Over 300 fast food restaurant workers and activists of the Congress of the Indonesian Labor Union Alliance (KASBI) rallied Thursday in front of the Surabaya Plaza shopping center, where a KFC restaurant is run by PT Fast Food Indonesia.
"We came here to initiate a dialogue with the management," said Jamaluddin, a protest coordinator.
According to KASBI's spokesperson Yuyuk Yuniarti, 20 of the company's 120 workers have been employed under an internship program. "They deserve a monthly payment, an allowance and a special bonus for Idul Fitri," Yuyuk said.
A scuffle broke out between protesters and dozens of anti-riot police as the former tried to force their way into the company's office.
They receded only after five union representatives were allowed to speak with management, who eventually agreed to rehire the dismissed workers and cease employing interns and contract-based workers.
The protesters then moved to the nearby city council, demanding that councilors closely monitor and evaluate the municipal manpower agency, which they claimed had contributed to a new employment system that exploits workers.
"The employment of interns and outsourced workers goes against the 2002 Child Protection Law, the 2003 Labor Law and the 2004 Education Law. It constitutes labor exploitation and slavery," Jamaluddin said.
The protesters also voiced their dissatisfaction with the prolonged labor dispute between garment factory PT Artha Glory Buana (AGB) in Sidoarjo and more than 2,000 recently dismissed workers.
AGB has unilaterally declared bankruptcy over financial difficulties, resulting in a four-month delay in payment of workers' salaries, much less an Idul Fitri allowance and severance payments.
Negotiations between the management and workers have become deadlocked, with the former insisting on paying Rp 10 billion in salaries, special allowances and severance payments. Workers are demanding Rp 30 billion.
Jamaluddin criticized the manpower agency for doing nothing to resolve the dispute. "Government involvement is needed to protect workers' rights," he said.
The Surabaya municipal legislative council's spokesman Musyafak Rouf concurred, saying authority was in the hands of the manpower agency. "We will raise the issue in the upcoming hearing with the mayor," Musyafak said.
Head of the municipal manpower agency Ahmad Syafei said his office had never issued a permit to PT Past Food Indonesia to employ interns in its restaurants, including in KFCs.
His office has not yet received an explanation for the delays in payment for AGB workers' salaries, the Idul Fitri allowance and severance payment, he added. "The Idul Fitri allowance is mandatory. It must be paid at least ten days before Idul Fitri," he said.