An Australian miners' union says 10 people have died in Indonesia's Papua province due to a labour dispute at the Grasberg mine.
The CFMEU's Andrew Vickers Photo: CFMEU
Tabloid Jubi reported four thousand workers were laid off by Freeport McMoran after going on strike in May.
The strike was in response to the threat of layoffs after mining was disrupted by a dispute between the government and the company.
Freeport said that the workers were considered to have resigned because they violated their contracts.
Andrew Vickers of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union said health rights for the redundant workers and education for their children had been withdrawn by Freeport.
Mr Vickers said 10 people died after being rejected by a hospital due to a lack of healthcare coverage.
Negotiations between the government and Freeport were reported last week in Jakarta.
Since January, operations at the massive gold and copper mine have been crippled by the dispute .