10 Nov 2011

Indonesia's president wants immediate resolution of Freeport strike

4:13 pm on 10 November 2011

The Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is calling for an immediate resolution of a nearly two-month strike by workers at a giant US-owned gold and copper mine in Papua province.

About one-third of the 23,000 workers at Freeport McMoRan's Grasberg mining complex, who have been on strike for higher wages since mid-September, have threatened to extend their action until mid-December if no agreement is reached this week.

Freeport, the largest taxpayer to the Indonesian government, has said the strike is costing it 19 million US dollars a day.

The Jakarta Globe reports President Yudhoyono as saying he has given a special order for the dispute at Freeport to be managed properly to find an immediate solution.

He says the central government has an obligation to facilitate and mediate to help find a solution.