Police facilitate meeting between PT Freeport, workers

The Papua provincial police, in cooperation with the Mimika Regency administration and local DPRD Legislative Council, facilitated a two-day meeting ending Friday between the management of gold and copper giant PT Freeport Indonesia, and workers representatives to help end ongoing strike which started September 28, Antaranews reported Friday.

The news portal quoted Papua Police Chief Paulus Waterpau as saying that the meeting was aimed at finding solution to the dispute between workers and the company.

As has been previously reported, around 200 workers of PT Freeport?s Grasberg open-pit mine in Mimika have launched a strike since September 28.

Paulus said that there are four demands of the workers, who are hired by third party labor suppliers PT Bumi Intinaker and PT Trakindo Rental. They include equal bonus to those received by underground mine workers, and permanent employee status of PT Freeport.

Paulus said that despite the workers strike, security condition in the area remains conducive. Nevertheless, the police have dispatched additional security officers from the Mobile Brigade to help secure the Mimika region.

The report did not say what the solutions are to end the strike. Paulus said that a follow-up meeting will be held.

PT Freeport Spokesman Riza Pratama said that the strike has affected the company?s open pit mining operation. He did not provide further details.(*)