Timika, Papua – Thousands of Indonesian workers have returned to work at Freeport-McMoRan's largest gold and copper mine.

Production at the troubled Grasberg mine in easternmost Papua province has been crippled since 8,000 unionized employees walked off their jobs in September, demanding higher wages. They ended their strike on Dec. 14 after getting a 37 percent wage hike and improved benefits.

Union spokesman Virgo Solosa says that on Sunday, workers removed roadblocks to the mine sites and a traditional stone-burning ceremony was held to officially mark the end of the strike.

It is expected to take about a week for workers to fully return and for full operations to resume at the mine.