Thiess' workers receive severance pay despite dismissal annulment

Dozens of workers of PT Thiess Contractor Indonesia (TCI) in East Kalimantan have willingly received severance pay from the firm although a ministerial ruling had annulled their dismissal, East Kalimantan based Kaltim Post daily reported on Wednesday.

Those receiving separation pay were among the 171 workers dismissed by TCI last year. The firm took the action after the workers went on strike demanding higher pay for extra working hours.

They argued TCI had filed a suit in the state administrative court against Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwawea who had recently issued a letter to annul their dismissal which actually had been approved by the local labor dispute settlement committee.

It will take quite a long time for the state administrative court to process their case, further keeping them in limbo, Kaltim Post quoted the workers as saying.

TCI is the subcontractor of mining firm PT Kideco Jaya Agung which operates coal mines in Pasir Regency in East Kalimantan. (*)