Freeport workers have yet to start working, police say

Papua Police say that thousands of US-based workers of gold mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) have yet to resume operations despite the deal reached by the PTFI labor union and the company’s management.

Papua police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said on Thursday that thousands of workers were still striking at Check Point 1 Mile 28, Timika, while they should have returned to work in Tembagapura.

“Last night, the union held a meeting with workers at the Check Point 1 Mile 28. They have yet to decide when will they go back to work,” Paulus said as quoted by tempo.co.

Paulus also urged that both sides, particularly the labor union, comply with the deal reached on Dec. 12.

The workers have reportedly refused to go back to their workplaces due to a lack of guarantees for thousands of contractor and sub-contractor employees, including those working for PT Kuala Pelabuhan Indonesia (KPI) and PT Pangansari Utama, who have been dismissed by the management because they have rallied along with PTFI workers.

Earlier this month, the workers agreed to end their strike after the company decided to increase their wages by up to 40 percent.

The company agreed to increase workers’ base wages by 24 percent in the first year and 13 percent in the second year of their employment contracts.

Labor union spokesperson Juli Parorrongan said, however, that the union was still not satisfied with the new arrangements. (swd)