PAM Jaya workers want trial to continue

JAKARTA: Employees of city water operator PD PAM Jaya urged the court on Monday to proceed with the civil lawsuit filed against the water operator and its two foreign partners, PT Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ) and PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja).

The lawyer for the plaintiffs, TB Suganda, told the Central Jakarta District Court that the three companies were subject to civil law because they are business entities.

He was responding to the defendants' legal argument that the lawsuit should be filed with the Jakarta State Administrative Court.

Around 1,000 employees of PD PAM Jaya are suing the city water operator and its partners for ignoring their rights.

They are demanding that the three companies pay them Rp 57.4 billion (US$6.75 million) in back pay for raises not given this year, plus Rp 22 billion for nonmaterial losses. -- JP