Freeport Opens Collective Bargaining Negotiations with Three Trade Unions
PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) officially commenced the 24th Collective Labour Agreement (PKB) renewal negotiations for the 2026-2028 period at the Wyndham Hotel, Kuningan, Central Jakarta, on Monday (23/2/2026).
The 24th PKB renewal negotiations are being conducted with three trade unions, namely the Chemical, Energy and Mining Workers’ Union (PUK SP-KEP) SPSI PTFI, the Mining Energy Federation of the All-Indonesia Trade Union Confederation (PK FPE KSBSI) PTFI, and the Papua Independent Workers’ Union (SPMP) PTFI.
R. Abdullah, General Chairman of the Central Executive of FSP KEP SPSI, stated that the fundamental principle of collective labour agreement negotiations is to regulate the rights and obligations of both workers and employers.
“On that basis, our hope for today’s negotiations is to build a balance between the rights and obligations of workers and employers,” he said.
He expressed his expectation that PTFI, as the largest mining company in Indonesia and indeed the world, with extremely demanding working conditions, must reconsider the welfare standards of its workers.
“With such high occupational risks, the level of welfare must naturally be commensurate,” he said.
On that basis, SPSI hopes that PTFI management and workers can mutually explore the extent of the company’s capacity to improve worker welfare, as well as the extent to which workers can optimise their capabilities for the company’s advancement.
“I believe this is in line with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution — workers are entitled to a decent livelihood, which means adequate clothing, food, housing, healthcare, and sufficient education for workers’ children. I congratulate our fellow trade union members. Hopefully this can be concluded within a month,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yudha Noya, Chairman of PUK SP KEP SPSI PT Freeport Indonesia, stated that the PKB discussion with PTFI management centres on two key points: the rights and obligations of workers and management.
“The rights and obligations we will discuss together in these negotiations relate to the PKB. We come with a mandate from the field that the focus is primarily on improving welfare,” he said.
Yudha expressed hope that through this PKB there would be wage increases above inflation as well as tax subsidies for workers. He argued that these points are commensurate with the risks faced by workers operating in PTFI’s extremely challenging terrain.
“Given Freeport’s conditions, with the rather demanding terrain, a challenging and risk-laden environment, and the fairly strong production and commodity performance for the company, these serve as our justification for requesting better welfare, including wage increases, tax subsidies, and several other matters that we have compiled into a formal proposal,” he said.