Blast at Nickel Plant Sparks Workers' Protests

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): As per media reports, hundreds of workers protested against the prevailing working conditions at the nickel processing plant in the Morowali Industrial Park on Sulawesi island, where an explosion had killed at least 18 and injured over dozens of people during the past weekend.

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The accident took place on Saturday morning as the workers were involved in repair works of furnace at the Chinese-funded nickel plant owned by PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS). According to police reports, thirty people are still being treated in hospital for injuries.

Several hundreds of workers took part in the protest which took place outside the complex. The letter sent by the unions representing the workers said that the demonstrators have given a list of 23 demands to the company management. The protestors demanded better management of smelters. In addition, they also wanted upliftment of health clinics to deal with emergency situations. Also, the Chinese workers need to learn the Indonesian local language, they said.

In an earlier incident in January this year, two workers, including a Chinese national, were killed in riots at another nickel smeltering plant in the Morowali Industrial Park.