Badak NGL?s workers to hold demonstration Wednesday

Workers of East Kalimantan-based liquefied natural gas producer PT Badak NGL Co have planned a large-scale demonstration for Wednesday to protest allegedly unfair treatment given to several employees, local daily Kaltim Post reported Tuesday.

The protesters would be contract workers who worked at Badak NGL?s projects in Bontang, East Kalimantan, and surrounding areas.

Zulham, chairman of the Bontang chapter of Indonesian Prosperous Workers Organization (SBSI), said they would march Wednesday to a square adjoining one of Badak NGL?s project sites in Bontang. He added that they had formally informed the local police about their demonstration plan in accordance with existing regulations.

He said that the protesters would demand for the Badak NGL management to explain why it had allowed its contractor, PT Mega Eltra (ME), to conduct a psychological test on six people who actually already have years of experience in doing work at Badak NGL?s projects with other contractors. The six workers, including Zulham, failed their psychological test at ME.

Zulham said that during the rally they would protest Badak NGL president Harry Poernomo who had failed to fulfill an earlier promise that he would facilitate the six workers to pass their psychological test.

Badak NGL is one of Indonesia?s two LNG producers. The other LNG producer, PT Arun NGL Co, operates an LNG plant in Aceh. (*)