Vico urged to fulfill promise to laid off workers

Dozens of people Wednesday held a demonstration in the East Kalimantan province's capital of Samarinda, to urge local administration officials to press energy firm PT Vico Indonesia to complete the disbursement of separation pay to its laid-off workers, local daily Kaltim Post reported.

The protesters, claiming to represent 302 workers of Vico, marched to the East Kalimantan governor?s office and the provincial council compound. They said that Vico had not fulfilled its promise to give the 302 workers Rp 40 billion (US$=Rp8,209) in severance pay. The firm has thus far only disbursed Rp 30 billion of the amount, according to the protesters.

A senior official from the governor?s office told the protesters that they would help resolve the labor dispute, and would therefore send a letter to the Vico management. Meanwhile, council members said that they had reported the case to the House of Representatives.

Vico, partly owned by BP Plc, has an oil and gas operation in Muara Badak, East Kalimantan. (*)