"I ask the National Police (Polri) to act quickly and firmly if there is evidence of violations by the company," he said in a statement released by his ministry on Friday.
The minister asked the Central Sulawesi Police chief to complete the investigation within two weeks and urged the national police to take strict action against any violations of the prevailing law. Based on the investigation, there were indications of violations of the standard operating procedure (SOP), which resulted in casualties, according to the statement.
The factory is located in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) in Central Sulawesi.
Pandjaitan emphasized that law enforcement should be carried out for the safety of workers. He noted that a similar incident had occurred at PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry (GNI) in 2022.
"The similar accident at GNI last year was a lesson. We are serious about enforcing the law for the safety of workers. We do not want to mess with human safety," he stressed.
The Manpower Ministry's team of investigators has submitted a proposal for holding a trial on the GNI fire incident, the statement said.
Meanwhile, Pandjaitan chaired a coordination meeting with the Minister of Manpower, officials from the Ministry of Industry, chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI) general staff, the Central Sulawesi Police chief, the National Police Security Maintenance Agency, and regional stakeholders.
Based on the latest report, the nickel smelter explosion at ITSS claimed the lives of 19 persons — 11 Indonesian workers and eight foreign workers — and left 29 people seriously injured. Eleven people were slightly injured in the explosion.
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Translator: Ade J, Kenzu
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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