Timika. More than 20 foreign workers of Freeport Indonesia's contractors have left the mining site in Timika, Mimika, Papua, following restrictions on copper concentrate exports introduced in January.
Tembagapura Immigration Office head Jesaja Samuel Enock said the foreigners have completed their contracts with the companies and their departure coincided with mass layoffs in the world's second-largest copper mine.
"Some of them finished their contracts at the same time when layoffs started, some others were affected by the current internal problems at Freeport," Jesaja told state news agency Antara.
However, none of Freeport's foreign workers with permanent contracts have been sent home, Jesaja added. Local manpower agency has recorded that 300 foreigners have been officially laid off following the government's export restriction policy.
On Friday, hundreds of workers rallied in front of the Mimika administration office to demand the restriction be revoked.
Currently, more than 200 foreigners work for Freeport and its contractors, most of the them derive from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada and Philippines. They are specialized in underground mining.