Total SA (TOT) said Monday it didn't expect to be able to finalize the number of contract workers that have reapplied for their jobs at its U.K. Lindsey oil refinery and begin the process of re-hiring before the end of the week.

Total's move to lay off 647 contract workers Friday at Lindsey in Lincolnshire, eastern England, followed a weeklong unofficial strike and has been met with anger by unions and workers. The Unite union has put the total job losses closer to 900.

The main contract company involved Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (JEC) informed workers of the decision Thursday, giving them until 1600 GMT today to reapply for their jobs.

Dow Jones Newswires contacted Jacobs' office in Scotland but was referred to the company's headquarters in California, no-one was immediately available there to comment.

"Total calls for all parties to respect employment law and to work together within the nationally negotiated agreements to which they are signatories," the French oil major said in a statement. "Neither the companies nor the unions concerned can accept illegal, unofficial strikes called without any democratic ballot."

The 200,000-barrel-a-day refinery meanwhile continues to operate as normal, Total said.

-By Angela Henshall, Dow Jones Newswires; angela.henshall@dowjones.com (4420) 7842 9405