Mimika DPRD Special Committee Meets Presidential Adviser, Demands Resolution of Papua Labour Disputes

The Special Committee on Labour Strikes (Pansus Moker) of the Mimika Regency House of Representatives (DPRK) met with the Special Adviser to the President on Employment, Said Iqbal, in Jakarta on Friday, 26 June 2026. The meeting aimed to convey various employment issues still faced by thousands of workers in Mimika Regency, Central Papua. Committee Chairman Derek Tonouye stated that their presence was an effort to fight for workers’ rights, which have lacked adequate resolution for years. He noted that the employment problems in Central Papua have persisted for nearly nine years without a clear solution from the state. “We came here to meet Mr Said Iqbal as the President’s special adviser because of labour issues that the state has been unable to resolve for nine years, raising questions about the government’s presence,” Derek said. He emphasised that the Special Committee was formed to oversee the dispute resolution process, including ensuring the implementation of the first memorandum which declared the mass strike of thousands of workers as legal and issued by the government in accordance with regulations. Derek stressed that the struggle was solely to defend the interests of the people and workers who have been appealing to their elected representatives. “We sit here not for political party or central government interests, but because of the people. People come to me every day complaining, asking about the resolution of their rights after they cast their votes,” Derek stated. The Special Committee has also given a deadline to the central government and related parties to respond to the workers’ demands. Derek asserted that if there is no concrete resolution by the time the committee’s term ends, he will personally lead a protest in Mimika Regency. “I will wait until August. This is the committee’s six-month working period. If by August this issue is not realised and resolved, I will personally lead the action in Mimika Regency,” Derek warned. On the same occasion, Said Iqbal explained that his main duty as the President’s Special Adviser on Employment is to provide policy analysis, input, and recommendations to President Prabowo Subianto regarding various employment issues.