[asia-apec 576] THE RAG, Issue Number 2 (part 3 of 3)

[PAN Asia Pacific]

*************THE RAG*************
(Resistance Against Globalisation)
The Monthly Newsletter of the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Assembly
Issue No.2, August 1998


Indonesian KFC workers on strike 
 
Following recent demonstrations from Indonesian McDonald's workers, at least 325 workers of 
Kentucky Fried Chicken from 8 outlets in Surabaya held a peaceful strike on August 1-2 
demanding: 
-that, because of the soaring price of food, the food allowance should be separated from the basic 
wage. Their basic wage is Rp 4,400 per-day (around US $0.30); 
-that transport allowance be increased from Rp 1,500 (US $ 0.10) to Rp 3,000 (US $ 0.20); 
-that the annual wage increment increase from Rp 2,500 (around US $ 0,15) to Rp 10,000 (around 
US $0,60); 
-and, that the health care allowance be separated from wages.  As it is now, workers contribute 
20% of their wages to a health plan. 
KFC rejected the demands and threatened to dismiss those who joined the strike without 
compensation. 
 
CONFRONTING GLOBALISATION: REASSERTING PEOPLES' RIGHTS 
 
This year's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting will be held in 
November in Malaysia.  Since the first Leaders' Meeting in 1993, representatives of non-
governmental organisations (NGOs), people's organisations, and social movements have met in 
parallel gatherings to highlight concerns about the "free trade, free market" model of trade and 
investment liberalisation that APEC promotes.  Today, a strong global movement continuously 
monitors, educates and mobilises people to fight the neoliberal economic programmes causing 
untold hardship to workers, women and peoples the world over.  More than 500 participants from 
the Asia-Pacific region are expected to attend the Peoples' Assembly in Kuala Lumpur.  This year's 
assembly is of utmost importance given the current financial crisis in Asia, the 50th anniversary of 
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and upcoming negotiations at the WTO. 
 
Issues and sector forums will feed into a two-day plenary session on November 13-14 in Kuala 
Lumpur.  Forums include: Human Rights, Democracy and Militarisation, Food Security and 
Agriculture, Consumers, Community Livelihood, Sustainability, Urban Poor, Labour, Migrant 
Labour, Women, Youth and Students, Strategies of Peasant Movements, Globalisation and 
Children, Environment and Forestry, Privatisation and Financial Deregulation, Media, and 
Indigenous Peoples.  The plenary will build a common analysis and a plan of action with the overall 
objective to strengthen the peoples' movement against globalisation.  To register for APPA please 
contact the secretariat. 
 
NATIONAL FORUMS 
 
MAKING SENSE OF GLOBALISATION: The APPA Secretariat will organize a public seminar 
about globalisation  and its impact on our distressed economy.  The seminar will take place on 
September 6  from 9:30am-4:30pm at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (1 Jalan Maharajalela, 
Kuala Lumpur).  Admission is RM10 and includes lunch.  Invited speakers include Premesh 
Chandran of MTUC, Syed Sharir of the National Union of Transport Equipmment, Sarojeni 
Rengam of PAN-AP, and economist Charles Santiago.  A second seminar will be held in Penang 
late in September.  Contact the APPA Secretariat for more information (tel: 03-28336245  fax: 03-
2833536  email: appasec at tm.net.my) 
 
URBAN POOR:  The first of a series of workshops for urban poor communities will be held on 22 
& 23 August 1998 in Johor Baru.  It will be followed by another workshop in Kuala Lumpur in 
September and a final one in Ipoh in October.  The workshops will focus on making communities 
aware of the impact of a globalising economy on their lives and what can be done to confront it.  
For further information contact Abdul Rahim Ishak at 03-6262989 or 03-7744531. 
 
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NEXT ISSUE: 
 
Reports from the workshop for urban poor communities and the seminar "Making Sense of 
Globalisation". 

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The Rag is the monthly newsletter of the Asia Pacific Peoples' Assembly (APPA).  All 
organizations and individuals from within and outside of Malaysia that are concerned about 
globalisation are encouraged to participate and join in hosting APPA.  If you or your organisation 
are interested in participating in or hosting or assisting with a Peoples' Assembly event, an issue or 
sector forum, or a cultural activity, please contact the Secretariat for more information.  The 
intention is to create a genuine space to contest crucial ideas and issues in an open and participatory 
way.  Comments about and contributions to the Rag should be addressed to the Secretariat. 
 
If you would like to receive the printed version of The Rag, please send a request by email to the 
Secretariat with your complete address. 
 
The Secretariat 
57 Lorong Kurau, 
59100 Lucky Gardens,  
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
Email: appasec at tm.net.my 
Tel: 604-2836245 
Fax: 604-2833536 
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