Indonesian nickel producer PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry is to revise its contract and wage system, sparking discontent among Indonesian workers, Indonesia's labor ministry said on Thursday.
Last weekend, two workers, a Chinese and an Indonesian, were killed in a protest against the company's founder in northern Morovalli. In December, two Indonesian workers died in an accident at the construction site.
Dozens of bedrooms were burned and equipment damaged during the protests. Reuters and the Chinese embassy in the capital, Jakarta, reported that several people were injured in the clashes.
According to Deputy Labor Minister Afriniyah Noor, the unrest between Indonesian and Chinese workers in the nickel processing industry is due to 2020 issues, including the wage gap between Indonesian and Chinese workers and early and unauthorized termination of contracts. This usually takes three to six months.
“We've seen these issues build up in a lack of communication [and] eventually explode. I hope these issues will be resolved through mediation and continuous communication,” Nur told VOA Indonesia during a visit to PT GNI in Morowali on Thursday.
"There are cases where [Indonesian] workers are not happy with their wages and are fired before the end of their contract because they feel they are not being paid enough," he said.
"There needs to be action, [the company] shouldn't unilaterally cancel the contract," he added.
PT GNI currently employs approximately 10,900 Indonesian contract workers and 31 Indonesian permanent workers. About 1,300 Chinese workers work in the factory.
Labor Party chairman Syed Iqbal said Indonesian workers in the sector are generally paid less than foreign workers.
According to the Deputy Minister, the Ministry of Labor has ordered PT GNI to improve workplace safety and labor relations through trade unions. He did not provide details.
"This is an important lesson for us because we need to ensure investments in Indonesia. This investment is very important and supports our country," Nur said.
With this improvement, Indonesian and Chinese PT GNI employees hope to be able to work safely.
Amirullah, head of the workers' union at the Morowali Uttara facility, told VOA that starting in 2022, workers have demanded PT GNI implement occupational health and safety procedures, provide workers with personal protective equipment and hire union members who have been fired after they leave. . On permission. However, their question went unanswered.
Amirullah, who like most Indonesians uses only one name, told VOA Indonesia on Sunday: "This happened because the company did not keep its promises and the workers were angry.
On Tuesday, production continued in the GNI PT factory with strict security measures.
