(updated) - Calrez workers in Maluku continue strike
Wednesday, November 29 2000 - 07:00 AM WIB
Tens of workers of Calrez Petroleum (Seram) Ltd, which operate in Seram, Maluku, are continuing strike for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, demanding the company raise their salaries to the minimum standards set by the government.
A Pertamina source said Pertamina had warned the company three months ago to raise the pay of its workers to the minimum level set by the government, but the company apparently ignored the warning.
Calrez, which is owned by Hong Kong and Australian investors, produces 627 barrels of oil per day at its Bulla onshore field in Seram.
A Calrez official, who wanted to remain anonymous, confirmed the strike, saying the strike had cut company output by 5 percent.
The Calrez source told Petromindo.Com the workers demand their monthly pay be raised to Rp 350,000 from Rp 285,000 at present.
He said negotiations between the company and the workers were in progress but company negotiators could not take any decisions as company president was still in Australia.
He suspected the Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI) of being behind the strike, but he said he could not provide evidences to justify the suspicion.
He said the company used to have about 160 workers but the number of its workers had dropped to 80 due the communal conflicts between Christians and Moslems in the region.
Pertamina data say there are three oil and gas firms now operating in Seram, that is Calrez, Kuwaiti firm Kupfec and Canadian firm Canadian Oxy. (Godang/Alex)