01 November 2024
The grand celebration of Indonesia's 79th Independence Day at PT Halmahera Jaya Feronikel (HJF) was full of festivity. The stage, set up on the futsal field, became a showcase of employee creativity, featuring the local poco-poco dance, singing, stand-up comedy, and a DJ performance to close the event.
In the crowd, Heronikel crew were busy with their tasks—some handled stage lighting and sound at the Front of House (FOH), while cameramen captured live footage, and other crew members welcomed guests at the entrance.
“This is not just an HRGA event; it’s for all of us from every department at HJF, Karunia Permai Sentosa (KPS), and Obi Sinar Timur (OST),” said Christoforus Nanda Rahardian, Employee Relations Specialist at KPS and the event’s head organizer. Christo also expressed gratitude to the management teams from Harita Nickel and Lygend Resources for their support, as well as to the organizing committees from various departments who worked together to make the event a success.
The Independence Day celebration was just one of many activities initiated by the Industrial & Employee Relations (IR & ER) teams from HJF, KPS, and PT Obi Sinar Timur (OST). Taufik Setiaji, Harita Nickel’s Industrial & Employee Relations Manager, stated that the primary responsibility of his team is to foster harmonious industrial relations between the company, employees, and the government. He elaborated that a harmonious relationship is achieved when the company operates in accordance with labor regulations, and employees fully support company policies, guided by the company's core values in achieving shared goals.
“The role of IR and ER here is to be the communication bridge between company management and employees, and between the company and the government, particularly in ensuring compliance with labor regulations. The challenge is how, as the middleman, we can remain balanced between all parties,” he explained, adding that flexible communication is essential to succeed in this challenging role.
In the field, Taufik continued, his team’s tasks are broken down into two main objectives. The first is enforcing regulations through activities such as socialization, training, and counseling. Most recently, his team initiated the confiscation of prohibited items from employee housing areas, not just as a disciplinary measure but as part of their commitment to upholding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards.
“The second objective is employee relations, achieved through organizing events that foster a sense of togetherness between company management and employees,” he said, citing the Independence Day competitions as one example.
Agusto Riwu GA Sandy, IR Supervisor, added that his team is developing a communication and consultation platform comprising employee representatives from various departments. Named the "Justice Task Force" (Satgas Pembawa Keadilan or SPK), its mission is to help resolve employee issues, not only those related to work but also personal matters.
“For instance, issues like personal debts between employees, breakups, or even blocked ATM cards—while these are personal matters and beyond the scope of IR, they do affect work. Through SPK, we strive to find the best solutions together,” he explained, accompanied by George Tirta, IR Specialist, who added that IR’s role in SPK is as a facilitator, with personnel from various departments trained for this purpose.
Agusto mentioned the "Heronikel" brand, introduced last year, which symbolizes Harita Nickel's employees. It highlights workers on-site as more than just employees—they are "nickel heroes."The idea behind it is simple yet resonant—those working on-site are not just employees, but nickel heroes. These workers, who leave their homes and families to labor in remote, often harsh conditions, are viewed as more than just providers. They area also national heroes, key contributors in the country’s broader ambition to drive industrial downstreaming and fuel economic growth.
“To put it simply, the purpose of SPK is to build trust among employees, as we provide a platform for every employee to voice their concerns. Heronikel, and its various entertainment initiatives like Herocreative, through events that offer fun and relaxation, serve as a reward for that trust,” Agusto explained.
Taufik underscored the fact that every initiative his team undertakes is driven by one overarching goal: enhancing employee productivity. It’s not a luxury, he suggested, but a necessity in the face of Harita Nickel’s ever-growing operational demands. With eight production lines fully operational at HJF, OST progressing into its third phase of power plant construction—set to generate a total capacity of 1,670 megawatts, and KPS set to begin operations with 12 production lines by 2025, all face mounting demands.
“What we are doing is an implementation of Harita Nickel’s Core Values. A solid team doesn’t just happen—it’s built on a foundation of mutual trust. This spirit is crucial, especially as production targets leave no room for compromise,” he concluded.
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