InfoSAWIT, BENGKAYANG – Demonstration that the workers of Duta Palma Agro Group – palm oil plantation company in Bengkayang that took place for 19 days until Saturday, 19 August 2023 wanted to get their salary paid.
It was happening in the company’s plantations in Sub district of Jagoi Babang, District of Bengkayang. The demonstration got much attention not only from the workers but also the workers’ children.
The workers and their children stayed in the demonstration location. They had to face reality with no good facilities. The demonstration was the pressure for PT Duta Palma Agro Group to pay not only the workers’ salary but to get their rights, such as, Labors’ Insurance, Health Insurance, pension allowance, and others.
It got more complicated because the company’s owner, Surya Darmadi is involved in corruption case. In the beginning, the controversy covered up the company, the public trust to the management of the company got more vulnerable because of the company’s owner background.
In the 19th day of the demonstration, it got more intense when the police officers were on the spot to dismiss the mass. Amateur video captured many chaos in the plantation – cars were broken and upside – down because of the chaos. The workers and police officers indicated the increasing tension.
But it was not happening that way. On 31 July 2023, Labor and Transmigration Agency West Kalimantan Province came to a conclusion between the company and workers’ representatives to get their protested done. Unfortunately, until now, the agreement was not fully realized. This made the workers get mad and continue their protests.
To respond the situation, the attorney of the workers from LBH Front Borneo Internasional (FBI), Jelani Christo said that it is indicated that the (provincial) government let it happen. The company, such as, PT Duta Palma Agro Group which is still monitored legally, should not operate and helped by firm act of law.
Christo wanted that the government and company deliver bigger responsibility for the workers’ rights. He also urged that the police should not be in the demonstration location and stop to arrest the workers. (T2)
