KFC Boss's Subordinate, Ricardo Gelael, Speaks Up: Employee's THR Will Be Paid On Time

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. KFC Indonesia)

JAKARTA - The manager of the KFC Indonesia outlet, PT Fast Food Indonesia Tbk, finally spoke up after employees held a demonstration demanding clarity on wages and THR. The management of the issuer codenamed FAST conveyed a commitment to pay the Hari Raya Allowance (THR) on time and immediately resolve disputes with the union.

Director of Fast Food Indonesia Dalimin Juwono said, THR 2021 for all workers will be paid according to the provisions. The subordinate of KFC boss Ricardo Gelael conveyed this in an information disclosure on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) website, quoted on Friday, April 16.

"The 2021 THR will be paid in accordance with the provisions of the labor regulations and the Minister of Manpower's SE regarding the 2021 THR, which is 7 days before holidays," wrote Dalimin.

For information, a number of KFC fast food restaurant workers have recently protested the company's management policy of cutting wages by 30 percent since April 2020 and paying THR that is not in accordance with the provisions.

Antony Matondang, one of the coordinators of the Indonesian Workers Struggle Solidarity (SPBI) SB PT Fast Food Indonesia Tbk who protested said the company had cut wages and withheld wages, paid THR not in accordance with the provisions of the KFC Collective Labor Agreement (PKB), and delayed payment of overtime pay workers on the grounds of the COVID-19 pandemic since April 2020.

However, Dalimin claims that the company has no problems with the company's Workers Union.

"The company carries out good industrial relations by always opening and attending dialogue forums both bipartite and in mediation or tripartite forums with SPFFI, which has the right to represent all workers because it has worker representation of more than 9,000 members, as well as with other labor unions in the company. including the SPBI, ”wrote Dalimin.

Meanwhile, the amount of salary and allowances that have not been paid by KFC Indonesia until 31 December 2020 will only be seen in the release of Fast Food Indonesia's financial statements at the end of this month. Dalimin also said that the value would continue to fall along with the payments made and specifically for the 2020 THR, it was said to have been paid last year.

Meanwhile, salary and allowances that will not be paid by December 31, 2021 will be reflected in the 2021 annual financial report which will be released at the end of March 2022.

Furthermore, KFC Indonesia has agreed with SPFFI and plans to pay off the company's obligations to these employees in line with the company's expectations of an increase in the company's opinion trend and after achieving a certain income target agreed with SPFFI.

Previously, Antony said that the SPBI that he represented with the SPFFI were two different groups within the KFC employee body. The SPFFI accepted the agreement with the company's management in January 2021, while the SPBI did not.

However, Antony said, management then hit the average of the 30 percent wage cut policy for all employees. This includes employees at the SPBI who disagree.

According to him, this kind of flat rate policy for cutting wages is against the Law (UU) No. 2 of 2004 concerning the Settlement of Industrial Relations Disputes. This is what Antony and his friends protested, until they reported it to the Ministry of Manpower.