The intervention comes as labor groups warn that two major ceramic producers, Milan Keramik and Mulia Keramik, face an imminent shutdown in Bekasi, West Java, potentially putting about 55,000 jobs at risk.
President Prabowo Subianto (left) raises his hand alongside Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad (center) during a May Day rally on May 1 attended by thousands of workers at the National Monument (Monas) square in Central Jakarta. (BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev)
Deputy House of Representatives Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad on Tuesday called the chief executive of state energy company Pertamina during a labor union gathering, pressing for solutions to soaring industrial gas prices that unions say could trigger mass layoffs and force major ceramic manufacturers to halt operations. Speaking at the annual congress of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), Dasco said mounting concerns over industrial gas costs “had overshadowed” his prepared remarks and prompted him to seek an immediate response from state-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina president director Simon Aloysius Mantiri.
"Before I give my speech, I want to ask first: is there a solution to the industrial gas [prices] problem?" Dasco said as he placed the call on stage, as quoted by Kontan.
