PT Freeport Indonesia has reportedly laid
off striking miners at its Grasberg operation.
On May 1, more than 10,000 miners
who are represented by the Chemical, Energy
and Mines Workers Union (CEMWU)
embarked on 30 days of strike action in
protest of the company’s furlough policy.
Contractors joined the strike on May 9. The
company declared the strike illegal, and
announced that striking workers would be
considered absent without leave. Any worker
absent for five days would lose their job.
So far, 178 workers have been terminated.
One of the complaints voiced by striking
miners, according to the CEMWU, was
Freeport’s furlough policy, which places
workers on long-term leave at short notice.
Although the furlough is paid, workers
lose out on many benefits, including
overtime and accommodation.
The union has urged both the government
and company to resolve their
conflict, and has encouraged the government
to provide a clear, legal framework
so that the company can invest for the
long term.
As featured in Womp 2017 Vol 06 - www.womp-int.com