Workers of JHCI unit in South Kalimantan go on strike

Workers? strike at coal mining contractor PT John Holland Construction Indonesia (JHCI) Hodgson in Kotabaru, South Kalimantan continued on Wednesday as the company refused to meet their demand for compensation payment, Banjarmasin Post reported on Thursday.

PT JHCI, formerly known as Leighton Contractor Indonesia, handles mining activities of coal mining company PT Bahari Cakrawala Seubuku in the Kotabaru regency. The change in the name of the company however prompted a dispute between the workers and the company?s management.

The workers said that PT JHCI has taken over Leighton Contractor Indonesia, and they are entitled to receive a severance payment from the stoppage of Leighton operation. Although the new company denied that it had taken over Leighton, the workers continued to demand the compensation payment.

The workers? strike has severely affected PT Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku operation.

The local manpower office said that it had sent representatives to settle the dispute between the workers and JHCI management. "Up to now, no agreement has been made," the head of the Kotabaru manpower office, Sugian Noor, said. (*)