Thiess committed to doing business in Indonesia despite labor disputes

Australian mining contractor Thiess Contractors Indonesia (TCI) remains committed to continuing operation in Indonesia despite protracted labor disputes, company president director Bruce Munro told House members on Wednesday.

Munro said TCI?s presence in Indonesia provided jobs for many locals and was supportive to community development in its areas of operation.

He said however they wanted consistent law enforcement so TCI?s operation could continue smoothly. ?But we strongly believe that it will materialize in the future,? he said in their hearing with Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR) in charge of manpower.

Wednesday?s hearing was part of TCI?s efforts to settle its dispute with 171 ex-workers. Last year, the company fired the workers after they refused to return to work at TCI?s projects in East Kalimantan. The company?s executives reported to the House about what had really happened with the ex-workers.

The ex-workers said their layoff had been illegal, and demanded TCI to continue paying them, which the company refused to do. Their demand, however, was against the fact that the East Kalimantan office of labor dispute (P4P) had declared that their dismissal was legal. Moreover, the state administrative court had in fact issued a verdict to overturn the Minister of Manpower?s veto over P4P?s decision.

TCI management said earlier they had tried to negotiate with the 171 people, but the ex-workers had just used their meetings to threaten and intimidate TCI?s executives.

TCI works for coal miner Kideco JayaAgung in Pasir Regency in East Kalimantan. (godang)