Indonesian workers warn of more strikes in 2 weeks

JAKARTA - Employers estimate losses from Wednesday's massive nationwide strike across Indonesia at 1 trillion rupiah (S$1.28 million), even as workers threaten another strike in two weeks if their demands for an end to hiring of contract staff and better pay are not met.

Mr Sofyan Wanandi, chairman of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), told The Straits Times: "We estimate about 1 trillion rupiah in losses from interrupted production" at thousands of companies in places like Batam, Medan, Bekasi and Surabaya.

Though hundreds of thousands of workers have returned to their workplaces, employees at state-owned oil company Pertamina reportedly blocked access to its refinery at Indramayu district in West Java.

Mr Said Iqbal, chairman of the Indonesian Metal Workers Federation (FSPMI), said: "Our members have been told to strike only for a day, as a warning. We are not planning any more strikes for another two weeks, till after dialogues with the government and the employer associations. Then we'll see if the results are satisfactory."