PT BA lays off 172 workers at coal briquette factory
Saturday, September 2 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
State owned coal-mining company PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PT BA) has laid off 172 workers at its coal briquette factory in Gresik, East Java due to major change in the production target, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Saturday.
The company's director A.C. Purba said that the company, which is based in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatera, was forced to lay off its workers because the actual coal briquette production was only about five percent of the initial target of 70,000 tons a year.
He said that the employees, mostly under temporary working contracts, agreed to receive 50 percent of their three-month salary beginning September to December at a negotiation mediated by some members of the House of Representatives (DPR).
The lay-off started several months ago but 72 of the workers opposed the dismissal and demanded to continue to work at the briquette factory. (*)