Arutmin?s contractor refuses to pay overtime to workers

PT Rimanda Transport, which handles the transportation activities of PT Arutmin Indonesia in South Kalimantan, has refused to pay the overtime agreed with its workers due financial constraint, Banjarmasin Post reported on Tuesday.

"I am really disappointed with the company?s refusal to pay the overtime,? Ardian, one of the company?s workers, said.

According to him, the company had agreed to pay overtime in a negotiation with the workers at the local manpower office in Kotabaru, recently. The company?s representative in the meeting stated the agreement in a written document.

But the company?s top management later refused to implement the agreement. The company, which recently made a significant increase in workers? salaries, said that it had no money to pay the overtime.

PT Arutmin, which operates a coal mining concession in South Kalimantan, is 80 percent owned by BHP-Billiton of Australia and 20 percent by local partner Bakrie and Brothers. (*)