Labor protests continue at Bukit Asam office

The dismissed workers of PT Sumber Mitra Jaya (SMJ) and their families continued their protests as the company still refused to pay a fair severance payment to them, the Sriwijaya Pos reported on Wednesday.

The daily reported that the workers still seized SMJ vehicles at the company's office in Muara Enin, South Sumatera, while their wives and children were still staying at the state owned coal producer PT Bukit Asam's office in the town.

One of PT Bukit Asam's employers was attacked on Tuesday when he asked the workers' wives and children to leave the office, the report said, adding that the ex-workers at the SMJ office also denied to give up and vowed to continue their protests until their demand was made despite the police's warning.

The local police had asked the dismissed workers to surrender a number of SMJ vehicles they seized within 24 hours but they gave no signs of truce at all.

SMJ, a contractor of the state owned coal producer, dismissed 350 of its 8,000 workers several months ago. The workers, however, opposed the dismissal, after the company failed to pay a fair severance payment to them.

The local employment office as well as the local administration have been intensively involved in negotiations with the workers but no progress has so far been made. The workers, who demanded a total of Rp 2.79 billion in severance payment, accused SMJ of intentionally delaying the payment. (*)