Indra Harsaputra, Sidoarjo – Workers whose companies are affected by hot mudflow in Porong, Sidoarjo, East Java, said Tuesday they were not being properly compensated for their loss of income.
Susiati, 40, was sent home until further notice along with 63 other workers after the mudflow, which began pouring out of an exploratory well at Lapindo Brantas Inc. gas prospecting site on May 29, swamped their company, cracker producer CV Sari Inti Pratama.
Lapindo had said it would give the workers Rp 700,000 (US$76) each per month but they only received Rp 500,000 from the cracker producer. They were allegedly threatened with dismissal if they refused the offer.
"I'm tired of fighting the company to get it to change its mind. I've been in two protests but nothing has changed. Rather than having to protest all the time, I'd rather quit my job," she told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
In order to compensate 1,873 workers in 19 companies affected by the mudflow, Lapindo has distributed Rp 1.3 billion.
Reality is starting to hit home for the hundreds of workers who have lost their jobs. They wonder how they are going to feed their families.
Their future is becoming more uncertain still as it is likely that residents will be evacuated from their homes, with no guarantee they will ever be able to return.
"This is a nightmarish situation. I've got no idea what to do. I'm sure Lapindo won't be handing out money for ever," said the woman, who is staying in a temporary shelter. Other workers have had better luck.
A number of companies in the affected areas have transferred their employees to other branches. Many have also received full cash compensation from Lapindo.
Abimanyu, who previously worked in the human resources department of food producer PT Primafindo Pangan Makmur, said he had not been notified by the company of any relocation plans. "But the good news is I'm back at work at a branch office of our company. And my salary is the same as before," he said.
Primafindo's general manager Maria Elizabeth Anggraeni said that if the company was forced to scale back its operations it would find jobs for its employees at its branch offices or other companies. "This is to ensure that the workers can return to work immediately."
Sidoarjo Deputy Regent Saiful Illah said he had warned businesspeople against dismissing workers because of the mudflow. However, he said he understood it was difficult for companies that had already suffered huge financial losses.
"The (regency) government is just a facilitator. I've repeatedly asked companies not to fire workers. We've also urged workers to look for other jobs, so they don't stay unemployed for long," Saiful said.
The head of the Sidoarjo regency manpower office, Bambang Widagdo, said the administration was planning to hold a job fair.
The job fair, he said, would give workers an opportunity to look for alternative work. "We're working hard not to add to unemployment numbers. We plan to prioritize workers affected by the mudflow."