Exxon-Mobil operation closed as protest continue

PT Exxon Mobil has temporarily closed its gas operation in Lhoksukon, North Aceh as nearly 1,000 of its temporary workers continued their protests on Thursday, demanding for an increase in their salaries, Serambi reported on Friday.

The workers, which have been on strike since Wednesday, also demanded the company to get a similar treatment the company gave to regular workers who besides received salaries also got a better welfare allowances.

The workers said that the 8 percent raise made by the company in May was too small, reflecting the insensitivity of the management on their welfare. The discrimination made by the company against the temporary workers should be ended because it not only breached the ILO labor convention but is also against the human rights, they said.

"The salary of a temporary worker is far lower then the regular one although he has similar experience and educational background," one of the protesters said.

Public relations manager of the gas giant Muslim Basya said that the protesters were not registered as the company's workers because they were hired by several contractors that handled some of Exxon's operations.

"But we will not adopt a hand-off policy. We will also help the contractors to settle the problem," he said. (*)