Bandung – Six former hotel employees who were fired from their jobs two years ago marched from Bandung to Jakarta on Monday to appeal for support from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The two-year-old employment saga began when nine employees of Hotel Grand Aquila Bandung were fired a day after they submitted a letter to the hotel management declaring they had established a labor union.

The hotel management then proceeded to fire a further 137 employees who claimed to be members of the union.

"Even Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar can do nothing. They are convinced the President will be able to give them a solution," Sopandi, a former employee, said.