Members of the IUF affiliated-Federation of Hotel, Restaurant, Plaza, Apartment, Catering, and Tourism Workers’ Free Union (FSPM) organized protest action to demand reinstatement of two union members at the well-known Japanese sushi restaurant chain, Genki Sushi, in Indonesia.
Union officers and founding members of Genki Sushi Workers’ Union, Sister Diana and Brother Ryan, were unfairly terminated after the franchisee of the restaurant chain, PT Agung Mandiri Lestari, announced store closure in early January 2025. Using efficiency reason, the company dismissed 4 permanent workers, who were all union members, while other 3 non-unionized workers were transferred to other outlets.
The termination of four union members was even more unfair by the fact that the company refused to give them option for transfer at a time when there are still a lot of stores that are experiencing staff shortages. The company also prefers to hire new recruits instead of reemploying the skilled and experienced workers.
In their latest protest on June 4, the FSPM also highlighted the company’s violation on social and health protection regulation by immediately stopping the contribution payment of workers’ government mandatory health insurance when there is no binding decision yet on their termination. This left the wife of one of the terminated workers had no health protection when she was five months pregnant and forced two union members to accept the unilateral termination with no choice.
FSPM members protested at the head office of PT Agung Mandiri Lestari, the subsidiary of MAP Group who is also the franchisee of Burger King, Starbucks, Subway and several other restaurant brands in Indonesia.