Miners' Protest Ends In Tkibuli

Miners who have been on strike since September 24 in Tkibuli, a town in west-central Georgia, Imereti region, protesting not receiving salaries from the owner of the mines Saqnakshiri LTD, have stopped their protest after yesterday’s meeting with the Georgian Minister of Economy Natia Turnava, as they have been promised to be paid salaries on Monday.

As instructed by Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia, the Minister of Economy discussed the issue of paying salaries to local miners at the meeting with the representatives of Saqnakshiri LTD, which has a new Georgian investor, Steel Investment Trades Company.

Saqnakshiri LTD has also taken the responsibility of creating a safe working environment for miners.

The Minister stated after the meeting that the coal mining process, which was suspended in Mindeli and Dzidziguri mines of Tkibuli since July 2018 due to safety violations, will be resumed in early November.

“It should also be noted that mines will be expanded in the next two years”, she added.

The protest among the miners in Tkibuli was sparked on September 24. Up to 30 workers went on strike in Mindeli and Dzidziguri mines, claiming that they would not leave until receiving current salaries. 

The Georgian Trade Union reported that the miners should have received their salaries by September 15 yet, their employers left them without money and are unable to say when the salaries will be paid.

In turn, Saqnakshiri LTD stated that it is currently facing financial problems due to the suspension of the coal mining process, which resulted in delays in salary payment, and the workers were also informed about the above, adding that the Company is actively consulting with the state to find a way out of the situation.

Photo: Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development 

Related Story: Minister of Economy Meets Miners on Strike in Tkibuli

By Ana Dumbadze