Reviewing The Location Of The PT GNI Riots In North Morowali, Wamenaker: Immediately Improve Company Management

The atmosphere when Wamenaker Afriansyah Noor visited PT Gunbutter Nickel Industry (GNI) related to riots some time ago. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Manpower)

Deputy Minister of Manpower (Wamenaker) Afriansyah Noor inspected PT Gunbuter Nickel Industry (GNI) related to the riots of workers that occurred some time ago in North Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday, January 19.

In the review, Wamenaker Afriansyah met with the company's management. Wamenaker said that the company's management should immediately make improvements, both regarding K3, industrial relations, and others related to employment.

"Earlier, we also listened that the management received input and received directions from the Ministry of Manpower to improve its K3, the relationship between workers and management, everything will be done, and hopefully this is a valuable lesson for us," Afriansyah said in his official statement, quoted on Saturday, January 21.

Afriansyah also said that by doing all the improvements, it is hoped that similar incidents will not happen again and the company's production will run smoothly.

"The existence of investment is very valuable because it can support the Indonesian economy, especially the economy of the people in North Morowali," he said.

Nevertheless, Afriansyah stated, if the company was proven to have violated employment norms, the Ministry of Manpower would not hesitate to take legal action.

"We appeal to company management to listen to every aspiration from workers and to workers to voice their aspirations wisely by staying away from actions that have the potential to be anarchic," he concluded.

For your information, the clashes that occurred between foreign nationals (WNA) and Indonesian citizens (WNI) have claimed two lives, one of which is a foreigner and the other is a local citizen.

Prior to the deadly clash incident, the PT GNI smelter also exploded and reportedly killed two of its female employees, in December 2022.

As is known, the PT GNI smelter is listed as an Industrial Business License (IUI) not an Operation Mining Business License (IUP OP) specifically for processing and/or purification, so it is not the authority of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.