Freeport halts production<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): PT Freeport Indonesia, a unit of Freeport
\nMcMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., has halted production at its giant
\nGrasberg copper and gold mine in Irian Jaya due to a strike at
\nthe site, Antara reported yesterday.<\/p>\n
The news agency said around 5,000 workers in Timika, Irian
\nJaya, had gone on strike demanding higher wages.<\/p>\n
It said workers were disappointed at the fact that they had
\nonly received a wage increase of 10 percent after the company
\nmanagement in New Orleans, Louisiana, had promised them a 50-
\npercent increase.<\/p>\n
The strike is expected to grow when thousands of other workers
\nfrom the company's contractors and subcontractors join.<\/p>\n
An official from the provincial office of the Ministry of
\nManpower, Deksi Peranginangin, said the company's management in
\nTimika had asked his office to mediate and a team had already
\nbeen set up to do so. He said the team was expected to leave for
\nTimika today.<\/p>\n
Freeport McMoRan owns 81.28 percent of Freeport Indonesia. The
\nIndonesian government owns 9.36 percent of the company, while the
\nremaining 9.36 percent is held by PT Indocopper Investama Corp.<\/p>\n
Grasberg is the world's largest single copper and gold mine.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the military pulled out 270 combat troops from the
\nremote town of Timika. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/freeport-halts-production-1447893297",
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