Thiess' workers urged to receive separation pay

Hundreds of dismissed workers of PT Thiess Contractor Indonesia (TCI) in East Kalimantan have been advised to receive separation pay from the company in stead of awaiting the minister of manpower and transmigration to annul recent decision of the labor dispute settlement committee (P4) to approve their dismissal, East Kalimantan based Kaltim Post daily reported on Monday.

The newspaper quoted former office manager of TCI, Aksa Arsyad, as saying that it remained unclear whether Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwawea would really annul P4?s decision. The minister had not yet confirmed such reports.

?Whether or not the minister will annul P4?s decision remains unclear. Rather than keeping awaiting, I suggest the workers to follow us receiving separation pay from the company,? said Aksa, who, along with some workers of TCI, agreed to receive compensation pay for their dismissal after they went on strike last year.

Moreover, TCI has considered to file a legal suit against the minister at the state administrative court if he annuls P4?s ruling. Such move will further keep the workers in limbo, Aksa said.

TCI, the subcontractor of East Kalimantan based coal mining firm PT Kideco Jaya Agung, late last year dismissed 171 workers who had been on strike to demand higher pay for extra working hours. Following a protracted conflict within the company, P4 in March issued a ruling to approve their dismissal.

Kideco operates coal mines in Pasir Regency in East Kalimantan. (*)