Ex-Kitadin employees demand to be re-employed

Some 53 former employees of coal mining company PT Kitadin in East Kalimantan province is scheduled to meet with the Kutai House of Representatives today (Saturday) to seek support for their demand to be re-employed, according to the local Kaltim Post daily.

The paper added that officials from Kitadin had also been invited to attend the meeting.

Kitadin fired the 53 employees, mostly grouped in the SBSI labor union, for instigating a protest which later turned into a massive strike. The 53 employees initially demanded for a raise in food allowance from Rp 3,000 per day per employee to Rp 5,000.

After the massive strike, the company agreed to raise the food allowance but only to Rp 3,750 per day. But the company also fired the 53 employees. (*)