Indonesians strike at Nike

Four thousand workers from one of the franchised Nike shoe assembly plants went on strike and demonstrated on three separate days in Jakarta at the end of April.

According to the daily newspaper Republika, workers were protesting over the refusal of franchise operator Hardaya Aneka Shoe Pty Ltd to pay a new minimum wage of Rp5000 (A$3.50) per day.

On April 25, many of the 4000 workers stormed the management offices. Cars and factory offices were burned and trashed. According to Republika, two women workers were injured and hospitalised. Factory security guards, police and soldiers were also injured.

On May 1, 13,000 workers from the same factory conducted a 10-kilometre march demanding higher wages.

Nike claims that its factories now pay the minimum wage. Even if this was the case, the wage still falls below the Indonesian government's assessment of what is necessary to sustain basic physical needs, let alone the social needs of people living in a huge city such as Jakarta.

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