TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) is compensating the families of workers who died from the explosion of a smelter furnace belonging to PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel on Christmas Eve. As of Tuesday, December 26, the incident has claimed the lives of 18 workers.

"PT IMIP is providing Rp600 million compensation for each victim," Dedy Kurniawan, PT IMIP's head of media relations, said in an official statement on Tuesday.

He said that PT IMIP will hand over the compensation symbolically to representatives of the victims' heirs. "As for the non-fatality victims, the amount of compensation given is based on each case."

Previously, Dedy said that PT IMIP had distributed an initial compensation of Rp25 million per person for each fatality. This includes the cost of delivering the victims' bodies to their family homes. PT IMIP also coordinates with BPJS Employment to provide other compensations.

"The heirs of the victims who died will receive compensations in the form of guaranteed compensation amounting to 48 times the lowest basic wage. The lowest basic wage in the IMIP area is Rp3,675,000, which brings the figure to Rp174,400,000," Dedy said. "The cost of burial processions is also provided in the amount of Rp10 million."

In addition, the company will provide periodic compensations paid in lump-sum, in the amount of Rp12 million. The families will also receive retirement insurance (JHT) paid in lump, for a value respective to the contributions that have been paid for each worker.

Dedy said that each fatality victim who worked for less than a year would also receive a pension guarantee paid in lump sum in accordance with the amount of contributions that have been paid. "Meanwhile, those who work for more than a year will be paid regular pensions in accordance with BPJS Employment provisions," he said.

For injured victims who are still being treated at Morowali Regional Hospital, PT IMIP is providing medical insurance. The company will also make sure to provide all the victims' needs, both physical and psychological, while in the hospital.

"This is done as a form of care and concern to those who became victims," Dedy said.

Riri Rahayu

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