Pertamina contract workers demand higher salary

At least 1,000 contract workers of the state oil and gas firm Pertamina Balongan refinery unit in Indramayu, West Java province, held a protest on Wednesday to demand a 150 percent hike in salary.

But Republika said that the operation of the refinery unit was not disturbed by the demonstration.

The protesters said that Pertamina must raise their salary because the government was also planning to raise the salary of civil servants and to raise prices of administered commodities including fuel and electricity.

But a Pertamina official was quoted by the paper saying that it's difficult for Pertamina to accommodate the higher salary demand.

"Where will we get the money," said public relations chief Suwandi, but added that the company would seek solution to the problem.(*)