Workers Clash at PT GNI Nickel Smelter May Harm Investment Climate: Minister

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Investment Minister or Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia lamented the deadly clash among workers at PT Gubbuster Nickel Industri (PT GNI) nickel smelter area in North Morowali, Central Sulawesi, as it would cause a negative perception of the investment climate in the downstream sector.

“This should be regretted. We should not blame A or B, but this [should be] our evaluation, the community which in this case employees, security forces, and investors or the management. We should regret this because this will trigger a bad perception,” said Bahlil in a press conference on investment monitored online in Jakarta, Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

He said a team had been deployed for investigation, yet he claimed to have not received a comprehensive report on the incident. All parties are encouraged to seek solutions. 

The former chairman of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi) urged the media to present fair and non-provocative coverage.

“Let's find a solution together. Don't exaggerate this as a big problem because in other countries, when there is a problem, it is not exaggerated too much in the news so as not to harm the country,” Bahlil underlined.

As widely reported, the conflict among workers of PT GNI took place late Saturday, January 14, 2023, killing two workers. One of them was a foreign worker.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Law, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD urged PT GNI to exercise professional work in guaranteeing a safe workplace to prevent clashes among workers from occurring.

Mahfud emphasized that the security forces in tandem with the local government and PT GNI continued to seek the best possible solution to the deadly clash. “The government will guarantee the rights of workers, in accordance with the constitution,” he remarked.

ANTARA

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