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Monday, 23rd April 2007 (4345 views)

Workers at the Freeport McMoran gold mine in Indonesia have returned to work at the site following four days of strikes.

The walkout ended at the Grasberg site, which is one of the world's largest gold mines and supplies some four per cent of the world's copper, with some 6,000 employees heading back to work.

Workers had begun their protests last week following a dispute over demands for higher wages, improved social services and the inclusion of more local Papuans in senior management positions.

Freeport was forced to process ore from stockpiles after its normal output of 230,000 tons per day was cut, with an overall loss of 173,526 tons and $11.32 million (£5.66 million).

After workers were able to voice their concerns directly to Freeport chairman Jim Bob Moffett via video conference this weekend, they returned to the mine on Monday, while those on a Sunday shift returned to work at the weekend.

The Papuan workers were asking for more career opportunities as well as improved conditions, pay and recruiting processes.

 

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