While in Indonesia last month, Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly's JULIA PERKINS spoke with BELA, a 20-year-old women who works at one of Sungai Buaigrup's biscuit factories in Tangerang.
Question: Tell us about the industrial action that has been taking place at your factory?
On the July 7-8, workers at four of Sungai Buaigrup's factories organised strikes for higher wages and money for food and transport. We sent delegations to talk with the company representatives, but the company would not talk. On the third day, the company came to the strikers and demanded the workers send a delegation to discuss matters. We refused.
They sent down the military, the police and a huge truck to disperse the workers. We would not move and had a big debate with the company. Finally, we agreed that we would send a delegation of workers to present our demands, as long as the company would agree to meet with us.
About 1000 people were fired by the company after the strike, including myself. The company says I was fired because of mistakes made at work, but we know it is because I was central to organising the strikes.
We have nothing when we strike. No money for our families, nothing.
Question: How many women work at these factories?
Eighty percent of the workers are women. Men and women get paid the same. There has been some sexual harassment from supervisors.
There is a rule in Indonesian industrial law that companies must provide workplace child-care and allow time for working mothers to feed their babies, but the companies have always neglected this. It is very important to fight for women's issues and for women's independence.
Question: How are strikes organised?
Each factory has its own strike committee which is affiliated to Kobar [Workers Committee for Reform Action].
@question: Can you tell me about the conditions at your factory?
We normally get paid 6000 rupiah per day for a seven- to eight-hour day. We must work seven days a week and shifts are always longer on Sundays. Recently, the company allowed workers to have a rest period during the day, but they deducted 2000 rupiah from our wage. Rent for our boarding house is 40,000 rupiah per month.
Question: What did you think of the huge demonstrations in May?
I was there. We have all been really inspired by the students. We must work together.
Question: Why do you visit Dita Sari in jail? What is your opinion of Muchtar Pakpahan [general secretary of the Indonesian Workers for Prosperity Union]?
We all admire what Dita Sari has done for the workers. We have discussions and ask her questions. I didn't know Muchtar Pakpahan before [he was jailed], but we support him when he is organising workers.