Pertamina's workers in Sangatta demand raise

About 600 contract workers of state oil and gas company Pertamina held a demonstration on Monday in Sangatta, East Kalimantan demanding a 50 percent raise, right for leave and holiday bonuses, Kaltim Post reported

The demonstration, which started at 8 p.m. brought Pertamina's operation grinding to a halt for the whole day.

Wearing various attributes, the workers rushed into Pertamina's main office in the town, voicing their demands. Several police officers were standing guard at the location.

The workers said many of them had been working with Pertamina's Sangatta-Bunyu exploration and production unit for between 10 and 20 years based on a one-year contract, which was continually extended.

"We have done our best to the company but the company has treated us a cash cow and never given us appropriate appreciation," one worker said, adding the company had never given them the mandatory holiday bonus.

They also criticized the company for allowing sick workers to be absent from works for only two days. If the sick workers did not go to office for more than two days, they would have their salaries cut.

After holding a meeting, the unit's management offered the workers a 21 percent raise, but the workers turned down the offer, insisting the raise should be at least 31 percent.

Separately, about 20 women grouped in the so-called Workers Communication Forum (Forkot) held a peaceful demonstration in front of the entrance gate of liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer PT Badak NGL Co on Monday, calling on the company to prioritize local people in their recruitment program.

The women stopped all vehicles entering Badak's complex, giving the drivers and passengers leaflets and flowers.

The women planned to hold the same action at fertilizer company PT Pupuk Kaltim and coal mining company PT Indominco. (*)