Coal mining workers protest over Idul-fitri bonus

Hundreds of the South Kalimantan-based coal mining company PT Bentala Coal Mining rallied in front of the local legislative council?s building on Monday to protest the company for not paying idul-fitri bonus or year-end bonus.

The protesting workers met the council?s members later in the afternoon and asked them to persuade the company to pay the year-end bonus.

?The company?s management backed off their promise to pay the Idul-fitri allowance,? one of the workers? representative said.

Idul-fitri bonus is not mandatory but all companies in the country are appealed to pay the bonus to help workers cope with the surge in the expense in the Idul-fitri celebration.

HM Ilyas, a member of the council, promised during a meeting with the workers to summon the company?s management over the unpaid allowance.

?We will soon summon the company?s management and if possible, to hold a meeting involving the workers, the management and other related parties,? he said. (*)