Antam says ferronickel smelters in S.E. Sulawesi operate normally

Publicly listed mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) on Thursday denied reports that its FeNi smelters in Pomalaa, South East Sulawesi had stopped operation on Wednesday after workers blockaded them.

?Everything with the plants? operation is going on normally. Workers not going on strike are continuing their activities at the smelters,? Antam?s corporate secretary Dohar Siregar told Petromindo.com and Neraca daily.

Dohar said only a small group of workers went on strike on Wednesday, which differed from earlier media reports that over one hundred employees had on that day blockaded two FeNi smelting plants which are located in Pomalaa, South East Sulawesi. Their action was reportedly in protest of the Antam management reducing their salaries without prior notice, which the company denied.

Dohar admitted however the firm should increase the salaries of its workers.

The government owns 60 percent of Antam while the remaining 40 percent goes to public shareholders. (Godang)