International mining company PT Freeport Indonesia operating from Papua province has started special flight for its employees and their families from seven tribes, who want to take holidays in their villages, Antara News reports.
Freeport management representative William Rising said these special services would help employees take their vacation in villages. This extended benefit is provided by Freeport for its employees, since there is no special flight from Timika to their villages in the hinterlands, the employees are required to fly via Jayapura.
Currently, there are 4,242 Papuan employees, including those from the seven tribes (Amungme, Kamoro, Damal, Dani, Nduga, Mee and Moni) working in Timika. This number constitutes 39 percent of the total employees of PT Freeport Indonesia.
In the initial phase, the special flights for Freeports Papuan employees have been started for seven regions, namely Ilaga, Beoga, Wamena, Enarotali, Wagete, Moanemani and Sugapa. PT Freeport deploys three aircrafts leased from Jhon Lin Air, MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) and Airfast once a week.
PT Freeport Indonesia director and executive vice president Robert C. Schroeder has temporarily taken charge as president director of the mining giant, following the resignation of Maroef Sjamsoeddin from his position, Jakarta Post reports.
Maroef’s resignation came as the issue of the continuation of Freeport’s operations in Papua remains unresolved. Currently, Freeport has proposed an extension of its contract, which is due to end in 2021, until 2041.
