Pama workers? demand to work in three shifts rejected

The labor arbitrary council of South Kalimantan has rejected the demand of coal producer PT Pama Persada Nusantara workers to work in three shifts, Banjarmasin Post reported on Monday.

The workers, however, opposed the decision and made an appeal at the manpower office in Jakarta.

The workers demanded the working shifts be increased to three shifts from two at present to ensure their safety and health condition. They also said that the three shifts will give them more time to socialize with other workers.

The commission, however, said that the workers? demand was turned down because larger number of workers still preferred to work in two shifts. Iskandar, a senior official at the local manpower office, said of 1,131 of the existing workers, 1,019 wanted two shifts, while the number of those who wanted three shifts was only 94 people.

According to Fitra Hadisurya, a senior official at Pama?s human resource department, said that the workers? demand to work in three shifts was not only irrational but it also did not receive support from the majority of workers.

PT Pama Persada Nusantara is a contractor of coal giant PT Adaro Indonesia. (*)