Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Papuans at Indonesia’s main mine win concessions

Posted at 03:13 on 23 April, 2007 UTC

Papuan workers at the Grasberg mine in Indonesia’s Papua province say their employers have agreed to a number of their demands.

Thousands of Papuan workers returned to work at the weekend, ending a five-day strike after management from a subsidiary of US firm Freeport McMoRan agreed to some of their demands.

The group representing the workers, Tongoi Papua, were demanding higher wages, improved welfare, and better access to management-level jobs for Papuan workers.

Tongoi Papua’s secretary, Penina Karma, says the company has now agreed to raise the workers’ monthly salary of 174 US dollars to 340 dollars.

And she says the establishment of a Papua Affairs department at the project will ensure Papuans more benefits and representation...

“For more Papuans in the level of middle management - they agree about that. And the other is, they said that there must be a reshuffle of people who are not serious about the commitment to develop Papuans.”

Penina Karma