TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Labor Ministry acted as a mediator between the United Pertamina Labor Union Federation (FSPPB) and the management of state oil company PT Pertamina (Persero). Among the issues mentioned in the meeting is wage raise, which still requires effective communication between the two parties.

Other issues include the provision of incentives in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement (PKB), which the two parties will examine further, and the strengthening of perceptions of both parties concerning the scope of authority based on the applicable provisions.

In a written statement on December 23, Indah Anggoro Putri from the ministry's Directorate General of Industrial Relations and Labor Social Security, said that another meeting will be held after Christmas and before the New Year to "be able to follow up the identified issues."

The mediation was held following a notice of strike sent by the FSPPB on 17 December. The notice was addressed to Employment Minister Ida Fauziyah and Pertamina president director Nicke Widyawati.

In the letter, the union said they will be on strike for 10 days from December 29 until January 7. They listed five reasons for the strike, including their disappointment that the SOE Minister ignored their request to change Pertamina's president director.

A second notice was sent to Minister Ida on December 20. The ministry then decided to mediate a meeting between representatives of the union and Pertamina.

FSPPB's media captain, Marcellus Hakeng Jayawibawa, appreciated the ministry's move. However, Hakeng said the meeting is not exactly what the union expected.

"We haven't seen any attempt to create a level playing field between management and unions," he said on Thursday.

There have also been rumors that the plan for strike was caused by Pertamina's plan to cut wages. Hakeng said FSPPB never spoke publicly about the wage issue.

Tempo asked Pertamina about the wage issue. But the company's VP of corporate communication, Fajriyah Usman, did not provide a specific answer, only saying that Pertamina is conducting a study on its Agile Working program as part of an adaptation effort ahead of the post-pandemic era. One of the program's focuses is to have employees of Pertamina Holding's head office to have the option of working from the office or from home.

He said that the program is not running as yet. "We are still in the process of getting input from various parties," he said on Thursday.

Read: Erick Thohir Laments Toilet Fees in Pertamina Service Stations

Fajar Pebrianto | Graven (Intern)