PALMOILMAGAZINE, BENGKAYANG – The 19-day-long protest held by workers of Duta Palma Agro Group, a palm oil plantation company located in Bengkayang, reached its climax on Saturday, August 19, 2023, as the workers demanded their rightful salaries.
This demonstration unfolded within the premises of the company’s plantations situated in the Jagoi Babang Subdistrict of the Bengkayang District. Notably, the protest garnered widespread attention, not just from the workers themselves, but also from their children.
Throughout the duration of the protest, both the workers and their children maintained their presence at the protest site. Their resolve was met with the stark reality of inadequate facilities and living conditions. The demonstration served as a palpable form of pressure directed at PT Duta Palma Agro Group, compelling them not only to fulfill their obligation of paying the workers’ salaries but also to address other fundamental entitlements, including Labor Insurance, Health Insurance, pension benefits, and various other rights.
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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.
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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)
