Badak NGL criticized for failing to protect the interest of workers

The management of East Kalimantan-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer PT Badak NGL Co. has been criticized for failing to protect the interest of six workers, local daily Kaltim Post reported Monday.

The criticism came after Badak's contractor PT Mega Eltra (ME) conducted a psychological test on six people who applied for a job in another Badak project. The workers, who already have years of experience in doing Badak projects with other contractors, failed the test and ME declined to hire them.

This situation has angered chairman of Badak?s trade union overseeing around 1,800 workers of Badak?s contractors, Syahril Piliang.

He questioned why ME had conducted the test while in fact the six workers had actually worked at Badak projects for more than 10 years. He also questioned why the Badak management had allowed the test.

Meanwhile, around one hundred members of Badak?s trades union reportedly had planned to hold a demonstration to protest the treatment given to the six workers. (*)