8 Nov 2011

Striking workers at Papua's Freeport mine reduce their wage demand

4:44 pm on 8 November 2011

Indonesian media are reporting striking workers at the Freeport-McMoran mine in Papua have dropped their minimum wage increase demands from seven dollars 50 an hour to four dollars.

An official with the All Indonesian Workers Union, Virgo Solosa, is reported saying the new demand, up from the current minimum wage of $1.50 an hour, is the best solution for all.

He says Freeport management is currently offering three dollars an hour.

Mr Solosa says the union is also demanding that striking workers who had been sacked by the company be rehired, without sanctions.

A report in the Jakarta Post says the huge Grasberg mine is estimated to be running at 5 percent of full capacity as the strike continues.