PT Bukit Asam refuses to take responsibility of PT ADP workers
Thursday, January 25 2001 - 04:30 AM WIB
South Sumatera-based coal mine operator PT Bukit Asam has refused to share the responsibility of the misery suffered by about 300 workers of its former contractor PT Adiputra Dewasajaya, Sumatera Express reported on Thursday.
The state owned coal mining company's senior executive Brikman Sinaga said in the company's head office in Muaraenim on Wednesday that the entire problem faced by the 300 workers should be solely settled by PT Adiputra.
He also said that statements that PTBA shared the responsibility of Adiputra workers as stated in advertisements appeared in several local and national newspapers recently certainly misled the public.
"PTBA has no connection at all to the problem faced by PT Adiputra and its workers. It is certainly their internal affair," he was quoted as saying.
At least 300 workers of PT Adiputra staged a peaceful rally in front of Bukit Asam office in Muara Enim on Wednesday. They demanded the coal mine company to settle Adiputra's claim worth Rp 5.7 billion to enable their employer to pay their wages which have been suspended since Bukit Asam cut its business contract with Adiputra in February last year.
Bukit Asam f cut its contract awarded to Adiputra to carry out reclamation works in February last year after the two companies could not settle their difference amicably. But when Aiputra asked the payment for the works it had done, the coal mine company refused to do so.
Sinaga said that Bukit Asam could not make the payment because according to a Jakarta court verdict, the claim should be transferred to Bank Universal as part of the payment of Adiputra's debts to the bank.
"We have been warned by the bank's lawyer not make any payment to Adiputra," he added.
Separately, Sumatera Express also reported on Thursday that the Bukit Asam management had offerred protesting workers a loan of Rp 1 million each. But the offer was refused because the workers said that they were still tied with an earlier agreement.
The Bukit Asam management promised the workers recently that it would ask the permission from the court, Bank Universal and Adiputra to invite the later's president Edi Hartono to come to Muara Enim to directly settle the problem with the workers. According to the agreement, Bukit Asam would pay the claim as the compensation for the workers if Hartono failed to appear within 10 days.
However, Bukit Asam later revised the agreement and erased a statement related to the 10-day limit. (*)