KEM to fully honor workers' rights, provides training

The management of East Kalimantan based gold miner PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (KEM) is fully committed to honor the rights of its workers in connection with the closing down of its operation in the area in 2004, local daily Kaltim Post reported on Monday.

KEM?s worker Laurensius told Kaltim Post on Sunday there was no unrest among workers at the firm as alleged by the chairman of East Kalimantan?s chemical, energy and mining workers union association (SP-KEP), Bambang Hermanto. The workers were worried about KEM not giving them severance pay in accordance with existing labor regulations, according to Bambang.

Laurensius, claiming to speak on behalf of KEM?s workers, told the newspaper its management had in fact begun fulfilling part of the provisions mentioned in the contract agreement they had signed with the firm. They include the company?s obligation to provide special training for its workers so that they can easily get new jobs after KEM?s mining operation ends in early 2004.

Currently producing 13-14 tons of gold annually, KEM has faced gold reserve depletion in West Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan.

The firm is an affiliate of Anglo-Australia?s mining giant Rio Tinto. (*)