21 Aug 2003

Dear Friends,

Several weeks ago we asked you to take action to support the 537 workers locked out at PT Kahatex in Indonesia. At that time we requested that protest letters be sent to Kahatex management only, request that they reinstate the locked out workers, pay them the money they are owed, and start paying workers the minimum wage. More action is needed in this case. We need to increase the pressure on the brands producing their garments at PT Kahatex. Please contact these companies - Olsen, Lerros, Tom Tailor and S. Oliver - to demand that they urge Kahatex management to respect workers rights. A sample letter and contact information for the companies is included below.

BACKGROUND AND UPDATE

(source: United Students Against Sweatshops)

PT Kahatex management is still refusing to reinstate the locked-out workers and has not yet begun paying the minimum wage or legally-required benefits to its employees inside the factory.The employees who have been "invited" back to work have only been a select few of the total 537 employees locked-out; those who don?t seem to be as closely affiliated with the union (PPB) supporting the locked-out workers and are perceived as being more docile. This blatant show of union-discrimination is totally unacceptable -- all 537 employees must be given the option of re-employment immediately!

Perhaps even more disturbing, the factory is now demanding that returning workers sign an agreement forfeiting their basic rights, specifically:

• (a) Workers must agree to accept the permanent status of short-term contract employees (meaning they can never accrue seniority, severance, or merit pay); and
• (b) Workers will not affiliate with any union other than two mainstream (ineffective and often corrupt) unions;

this specifically prohibits them from associating with PPB, the independent union that has been supporting the locked-out workers. While letters to Kahatex management have had some impact on the factory's willingness to listen to workers' demands, it is clear that it will take more pressure from all angles to get this company to move. Kahatex must understand that U.S. and European brands will not continue to do business with a factory that insists on so blatantly disregarding workers' rights.

Please contact the brands that produce their garments at PT Kahatex and urge them to immediately contact Kahatex management in order to bring about a resolution to this unacceptable situation. These companies must make it clear to Kahatex that their continued business with PT Kahatex is contingent upon implementation of the agreements on wages and benefits, and allowing all locked-out workers back to the factory without further repercussions. See sample letter below.

Click on adresses to adjust and send our protestletter immediatey!

OLSEN

Olsen GmbH & Co. KG
Schnackenburgallee 50
D-22525 Hamburg
Germany
Tel.: +49-40-855 60-0
Fax: +49-40-855 60-490
Send now to: info@olsen.de, dreichert@olsen.de

LERROS

Lerros Moden GmbH
Im Taubental 35
D-41468 Neuss
Germany
Tel: +49-2131-36060
Fax: +49-2131-3606100
Send now to: lerros@t-online.de

TOM TAILOR

Ralf Peter
Tom Tailor AG
Garstedter Weg 14
22453 Hamburg
Germany
Fax: +49-4054-2929
Send now to: rap@tom-tailor.com

S.OLIVER

Gerd Kiesel
S. Oliver
Bernd Freier GmbH & Co. KG
Ostring
D-97228 Rottendorf
Tel: 09302 309-0
Fax: 09302 309-426
Send now to: gekies@s.oliver.de, s-information@s.oliver.de

SAMPLE LETTER

Please adapt and send the following letter to the companies doing business with PT Kahatex.

[insert date]

Dear [please insert name of company representative],

As you may be aware, a garment and textile factory that you have done business with, PT Kahatex in Bandung, Indonesia, has a long history of violating Indonesian labor law and internationally recognized standards of worker rights. Recently, the situation at PT Kahatex has become critical and requires your urgent intervention in order to bring about a just solution. I am writing to ask you to tell the management at this factory that they must comply with Indonesian law and the internationally-accepted standards of good labor practice.

On May 9, 2003, an agreement was reached between Kahatex management, worker representatives, and the local Ministry of Manpower stating that the company would increase the piece rate on certain styles in order to move towards compliance with the legal minimum wage. Also on that date, Kahatex agreed to begin paying the legal minimum wage, as well as provide health insurance (as required by law), overtime compensation, and menstrual, maternity, and annual leave.

Since then, the factory has made no progress towards any of these agreements and has illegally locked out 537 workers who protested the continued payment of sub-minimum wages. Furthermore, Kahatex management is now requiring that any employee wishing to return to work must sign a contract forfeiting the right to freedom of association, a grave violation of Indonesian and international labor law.

The current situation at PT Kahatex is unacceptable. Your company and the others producing at PT Kahatex Sweater are responsible for the working conditions at this factory. I strongly urge you to contact Kahatex today and tell them you expect your suppliers to uphold basic principles of workers' rights. Specifically, request that PT Kahatex reinstate all locked-out workers, immediately remove illegal demands from employment contracts, and pay at least the legal minimum wage to all workers in the factory.

Your company has a role to play in improving labor practices at its supplier, and this responsibility must not be ignored. It is imperative that you contact Kahatex immediately so that workers who make your garments do not suffer any further harm and can return to their jobs as soon as possible. Please inform me of the steps you take to address this very serious issue.

Sincerely,