"There has been a tripartite effort. For the labor problem particularly, there is a clear ruling in the Law on Manpower," Chief of the Papua Provincial Police Inspector General Boy Rafli stated.Timika, Papua (ANTARA News) - The Papua Police can solely protect and maintain security in PT Freeport Indonesia in Papua while a strike is ongoing but will not interfere in the companys labor problem.
The solution to the manpower problem should be in line with Law No 13 of 2003 and its derivative regulations, Chief of the Papua Provincial Police Inspector General Boy Rafli stated here, Friday.
The deployment of police personnel around the company is solely to protect it and ensure that thousands of striking workers do not commit actions that could disadvantage others, he remarked.
"There has been a tripartite effort. For the labor problem particularly, there is a clear ruling in the Law on Manpower," he added.
He urged striking workers to abide by the law and to maintain order and security.
Since May 1, 2017, thousands of PT Freeport workers have been on strike following a dispute between the management and its labor union.
As a consequence, PT Freeport and its sub-contract companies have fired more than 2,500 workers.
The Papua Police and Military Command had held an evaluation meeting on measures to secure the company during the strike in Mimika District, Papua, on Thursday.
On Friday morning, Papua Police Chief Rafli, Commander of the Papua XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command Major General George Elnadus Supit, and Commander of the Indonesian Naval Base 11/Merauke Brigadier General Bambang Sutrisno are expected to hold a meeting with the management of PT Freeport Indonesia in Tembagapura, Mimika.
Meanwhile, a group of workers of PT Freeport Indonesia recently staged a demonstration in front of the Mimika district administration, demanding the government to mediate in their dispute with the management of the mining company.
The striking workers, many of whom have been dismissed after a long absence from work, presented a nine-point demand during the demonstration on Tuesday.
Among the points put forth in the demand is that the government should be responsible for settling the work dispute with the management of Freeport, which has large copper and gold mines in Papua.
They demanded the government and company to immediately reemploy the workers without any sanction. The workers include those laid off on grounds of lack of efficiency.
They also urged the companys management to stop alleged discrimination and criminalization of workers participating in the strike since early May, unilateral dismissal of workers, and intimidation of the leader of the labor union.
The district administration has been urged to facilitate negotiations between the management and workers.
The district administration had already facilitated negotiations earlier between the companys management and the leaders of the workers, but the meeting ended in a disagreement.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
