PT MEDCO URGED TO EMPLOY LOCALS

Musi Rawas, S Sumatra, Jul 10 (ANTARA)- Suka Karya villagers in BTS Ulu subdistrict, Musi Rawas regency, South Sumatra province, had urged PT Medco to empower local workers considering that the oil and gas company is operating in their village.

"Only two of the villagers are employed by the company, while many people here with a potential are still unemployed," a Suka Makmur villager, Sardji, said Thursday.

He said the villagers still did not really understand why PT Medco was reluctant to accept the locals, even as irregular workers.

"We know the prices of rubber and oil palm fruits dropped, although the two plantation products are the main source of income of the villagers. Therefore employment by the company would at least help the economy of the villagers," he said.

Sarji admitted that the local human resources are far from what the company expected of them, but they would still be grateful if they are employed only as black collar workers, not as the better paid office employees. They said they felt strange if the villagers could merely "sit on the fence' waiting the oil mining company exploiting the rich natural resources of their village.

A similar disappointment was expressed by another villager, Purwanto (24), who said PT Medco did not give them any chance even as black collar workers.