Kutai parliament ready to help resolve employee protest at Vico

The Kutai regency House of Representatives is ready to help resolve the problem of ongoing protest of employees of sub-contractors of oil and gas firm PT Vico in the Muara Badak area, in East Kalimantan province.

"We have formed a special team in case we're needed. But because the case is now being handled by the provincial Parliament, the Kutai Parliament only monitors the case," House deputy speaker M. Rusmin told the local Kaltim Post daily.

The Muara Badak area is under the Kutai regency. The employees of Vico sub contractors who are grouped in the SBSI labor union had made a protest since early this month demanding among other things a raise in salary. During their protest, the employees blockaded the main gate to Vico Muara Badak operation.

The employees have recently ended their blockade but the protest still continues.

The parliament of the East Kalimantan province together with the province's Police Chief and Military Commander have recently facilitated a gathering between the protesting employees and community groupings to seek a peaceful resolution to the problem. (*)