Kobatin?s workers go on strike in Bangka Belitung

Tin mining company PT Kobatin, which is majority owned by Malaysia Smelting Corp. Bhd. of Malaysia and operates in Bangka Belitung province, still could not resume its activities on Friday as its workers continued their strike to protest the firm management?s policies, Suara Pembaruan daily reported.

The workers, who began their strike on July 30, said they wanted to negotiate directly with Kobatin?s president director.

They also demanded for dismissal of the company?s administrative director Mathias Haryanto and general affairs manager Salman Abuchori.

The labor strike had been triggered by the company management?s decision to stop its onshore mining activities in Payung district and transfer workers from the district to other sections of the company. The workers from Payung had no skills to do their work in their new place.

On Friday, Mathias and another director of Kobatin held talks with representatives of the protesting workers. But they failed to reach an agreement.

Kobatin is 75 percent owned by Malaysia Smelting Corp. Bhd., and 25 percent by state tin miner PT Timah Tbk.

Kobatin had decided to gradually leave its mining activities in Bangka Belitung and hand over some of its assets to the local government. (*)