Caltex workers threaten to go on strike

Employees of PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia (CPI) have threatened to go on strike if the management continues with its plan to unilaterally implement the new working policy without their approval, Riau Post reported on Saturday.

The threat was made by tens of the company?s employees mostly working in production, engineering and other related working units during a negotiation between the management and the Association of the National Employees of Caltex (SPNC) at the labor office in Pekanbaru on Friday.

The workers complained that the new working policy which changed the working schedule from 12 hours working time or 10 working days and five off-days (10-5) to eight hours working time or five working days and two off-days (5 ?2) has severely hurt their earnings because with the new working schedules, they would no longer receive overtime payment.

The workers also opposed the new working policy because it was implemented without consultation with them.

The new policy affects hundreds of the company?s workers who are mostly posted in vital operations. If they go on strike, almost all activities of Caltex, which produces more than a half of the country?s oil production will likely be interrupted. (*)