Workers at PTBA?s contractor go on strike

As many as 150 workers of PT Musi Rawas, the subcontractor of PT Tambang Bukit Asam (PTBA) and PT Pama Tanjung Enim went on strike on Monday demanding for lunch allowance, Palembang Post reported from Muara Enim on Tuesday.

According to the daily?s report, the workers launched their protest peacefully at the parking area of the local branch of the state owned Bank Mandiri. The workers said that PT Musi Rawas only paid lunch allowance (Rp 6,000 per day) to the office staff. The mineworkers did not receive the lunch allowance although in an agreement with PTBA, the workers should receive a lunch allowance of Rp 3,500 per day.

The company has agreed to pay the lunch allowance but the workers demanded that the payment should have been made since the agreement between PTBA and PT Musi Rawas began effective two years ago. It means that the company should pay the compensation for the payment of the lunch for these two years time. (*)