Mining activity at Gosowong remains normal despite workers protest

Mining activity at the Gosong gold mine operated by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals (NHM) in Halmahera Utara Regency, North Maluku Province, remains ?conducive and normal? as the company negotiate with protesting workers union.

Facilitated by local administration, the company started two-day talks ending Friday with the workers union, which has protested the company?s recent decision to dismiss dozens of workers.

Yolanda Sumeisey, Communications Specialist at NHM, said in a statement that the company has offered better severance package, and the workers union has asked for time to review the new package.

?The representatives of the workers union asked time for consolidation and will respond early next week. Meanwhile, the situation at Gosowong mine remains conducive, and activities are running normally,? she said.

She said that NHM will continue to maintain the Gosowong mine operations through new exploration activities to find new reserves and efficiency programs including through reduction in the number of workers as the economic mine life shortens. A geotechnique incident at the Kencana mine in 2016 caused suspension of the Kencana and Toguraci underground mine. (*)