Newmont Nusa Tenggara criticized over labor system

After Newmont Minahasa Raya (MNR), it is now the turn of its affiliated company PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) to receive public criticism.

Director General of Workers' Development and Supervision at the Minister of Manpower Din Syamasuddin has charged that NNT, which is also controlled by the Denver, the United States based Newmont Corporation, has a little concern in dealing with unemployment problem.

"The recruitment system adopted by NNT is too liberal and as the consequence, most of job openings in the gold mine are filled by more skilled workers from other provinces," he was quoted by Bali Pos as saying.

Speaking to reporters after his visit to the gold mine, Dien said he feared the company's lack of concern on the local workers could create a social jealousy among the locals, which in the future could backfire the company's operation.

Meawhile Lombok Pos also reported on Monday that the local government has warned that Muluk, which hosts the NNT gold mine, could become a ghost town in the next 25 years if the company failed to protect the environment.

Rifai Ahmad, the head of the local mining office in NTB province, said that besides paying attention to the local employment, NNT should also adopt a good environment system so that the mining site would remain productive as farming areas even after its contracts ended.

"The provincial government has no choice but to be more strict in monitoring the activities of the gold mine operator," he said. (*)