Release: PTNNT urges unions to resume negotiations and suspend unnecessary work stoppage
Monday, August 2 2010 - 07:39 AM WIB
?PTNNT remains willing to continue negotiations to reach a fair and responsible resolution to this issue,? said Darren Hall, General Manager of Operations for PTNNT. ?We believe negotiations have not been given enough time to work and should be allowed to resume in good faith.?
On June 24 PTNNT received a letter from NTB?s Labor Inspector regarding possible overtime payments to employees and PTNNT is seeking legal certainty around the proposed payments. The Company?s ability to seek legal certainty was recently confirmed in a July 16 letter from the Head of the Provincial Manpower Office.
On July 22, PTNNT and labor union PUK SPKEP SPSI held their first formal meeting to negotiate and discuss the issue. Unfortunately, a mutual understanding was not reached and the PUK SPKEP SPSI, at the conclusion of the meeting, delivered a notice of its intent to strike.
?PTNNT is committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations and continues to seek legal certainty regarding this issue,? said Darren Hall. PTNNT, consistent with our values, will abide by all final legal decisions including those which may apply to overtime payments.?
PTNNT has operated the Batu Hijau copper and gold mine in West Sumbawa, Indonesia since 2000, employing approximately 7000 employees and contractors, more than 60% of whom are recruited locally from the West Nusa Tenggara province with the vast majority from West Sumbawa district. (end of release)