PAPUAN WORKERS UNION AGAINST DISMISSALS OF FREEPORT EMPLOYEES

Timika, Papua, Jan 16 (ANTARA) - Chairman of the Papuan Workers Union Yohannis Samuel Nussy strongly slammed at the action of PT Freeport Indonesia sacking hundreds of its employees on the grounds of the current global economic crisis.

Speaking to Antara here on Friday, Nussy reaffirmed that it was not wise for the company to dismiss its workers with a view to maintaining efficiency, because actually there were still many things PT Freeport Indonesia could do in maintaining efficiency.
"The grounds for dismissing the employees need to be specified in detail. The workers must not be dismissed merely for maintaining efficiency," Nussy said.

There were many alternatives PT Freeport could choose to achieve budgetary efficiency in anticipating the impact of the global economic crisis, he said.
For example, he added, high-ranking employees who have enjoyed office facilities such cars, houses and other facilities, should no longer receive such facilities, since they are already enjoying high salaries.

If the company really wished to maintain its operating officiency, it needs to stop providing the facilities, Nussy said.