Reports from Papua New Guinea say some politicians have been exerting pressure on government departments dealing with the more than 220 Chinese workers who were detained in Madang.
The workers have been employed by the Chinese-funded Ramu Nickel project but are now at the a centre of a dispute about the processing of their work permits.
The Post Courier newspaper says the labour and the industrial relations department have been approached by top leaders, including the labour minister Mark Maipakai, over the matter.
The departments are being accused of failing to follow the government's line on the Ramu nickel mine investment.
