Group 4 Securities will give priority to hiring locals at Caltex

International security service company Group 4 Securities will give priority to hiring locals in providing security affairs of PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, the country's largest oil producer based in Riau province, Riau Pos reported on Monday.

Adiette G. Soedarmo, the human resources support manager of the London-based security service company, said that the company's policy is to give a priority to locals in the recruitment for its services in Indonesia.

He said that for Caltex, the security service company would use the existing security staff to support its operation. "We will take over all the existing security personnel from PT Tripatra," he told the daily in an interview.

The 900 security personnel who are now working with Caltex will work under the pledge of Group 4 Securities beginning this month, he said.

Caltex acknowledged that the appointment of the British private security company was made following as escalation of security tension in the company. But he dismissed allegation that the new security service company would use expatriates and non-Riau personnel in its service.

He said that Group 4 Securities is handling only the security management while its personnel will be hired from locals.

Street rallies, road blockade and looting against the company have become the common sights due to the lack of legal enforcement in the country since the fall of former authoritarian leader Soeharto in 1998.

At present, Group 4 Security provides security services in a number of major companies in Java, Aceh, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, with total staff of about 1,500 people. The company operates in 50 countries including Europe, Middle East, Africa and other Asian countries. (*)