Freeport Indonesia workers to gradually return to work

JAKARTA, Dec 25 (Reuters): Workers at Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold Inc's mine in Indonesia will gradually return to work this week to end a three-month strike that has crippled output and exports from the world's second-biggest copper mine, union officials said on Sunday. Some workers have started a traditional stone burning ritual and removed a road blockage that kept other workers from accessing the Grasberg mine in the central highlands of Papua island in eastern Indonesia, Juli Parorrongan, union spokesman told Reuters via telephone on Sunday. The union had planned to mobilize workers to return to the mine on Saturday. But some of them are celebrating Christmas with their families in Papua, which is predominantly Christian. Many workers at the Grasberg mine are Papuans. "Muslim workers will start fixing the road today, but we think they cannot finish everything today to start mobilisation," Parorrongan said, adding that it would take seven days for workers to fully return. The road blockade included a big tent inhabited by workers and several heavy vehicles. The strike, which shook labour relations in Southeast Asia's largest economy, is the longest in recent Indonesian history and represents the first major attempt by workers to reap greater financial rewards in ne of the world's hottest emerging markets.