Pertamina workers demand in hike salaries

At least 300 workers at the production unit of Pertamina in Pasir Penyu, Jambi staged a demonstration on Tuesday demanding the state oil and gas company to pay their wages according to new wage standards, Riau Pos reported on Wednesday.

The workers who staged a peaceful demonstration at the front of Pertamina office in the area issued five points of demands including the demand to adjust their salaries to the newly issued minimum wage level beginning April 1; not to change the skill and job classification and to stick 40 hours a week working system as regulated by the manpower office.

The local managers of the state oil and gas company's operations first refused to negotiate with the protesting workers but they later agreed to the workers' demand after the local government officials stepped in and required the company to meet the workers' demand.

The head of the manpower office Gembong said that his office would give a full support to the workers as long as their demand was not against the existing regulations. He also encouraged the workers to report to him, if Pertamina broke its promise to meet their demand. (*)