SBSI protests dismissal of ExxonMobil?s 146 workers

The chapter of the SBSI labor union in North Aceh has strongly protested the dismissal of labor supplier PT Indo Buana Transport?s 146 workers who have so far been hired by ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia (EMOI), a local newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Samsul Bahri, the chairman of SBSI?s North Aceh chapter, said in Lhokseumawe on Monday that the dismissal of the workers was illegal because it was made not in line with the existing procedures. "The workers should first be asked to negotiate with EMOI and Indo Buana as the labor supplier before the dismissal was made," he was quoted as saying.

Samsul denied the statement made by EMOI that the workers was dismissed due to the termination of their contracts. He also refuted the company? s statement that the workers were not employed by EMOI.

"The workers applied for works through EMOI. The company arranged their works and their salaries, while Indo Buana only received fees," he said

EMOI?s spokesman said earlier that the workers lost their jobs following the termination of the contract between EMOI and Indo Buana, which supplied most of EMO?s drivers. The spokesman said the contract was ended due to the decline in the number of drivers needed by the company to support its activities. (*)