Minister of Economy: Miners in Tkibuli Received their Salaries

“The new investor, Steel Investment Trades Company, has fulfilled its first promise and fully paid the delayed salaries of local miners in Tkibuli. So, the first, most important issue has been resolved,” Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava stated today, adding that she is actively communicating with both miners and investors.

 “It is important for me to know when the coal mining process will be restored in Tkibuli mines in a safe working environment and when the enterprise will start operating normally. Resolving the issue of labor safety is of utmost importance. This issue is a priority and the safety standards should be protected,” she emphasized, expressing hope that other promises made by the investor will also be fulfilled in good time. 

"I have high hopes and expectations. We will closely monitor the process of fulfillment of other promises made by the new investor. We will support and assist them in fulfilling those promises," Turnava said.

The protest among the miners in Tkibuli, a mining town in west-central Georgia, Imereti region, 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 their 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, the employer company Saqnakshiri LTD stated that it is currently facing financial problems, and the workers were also informed about the above, adding that they were actively consulting with the state to find a way out of the situation.

The miners stopped their protest after meeting with Turnava, as they were promised to be paid salaries on September 30.

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 presented the new Georgian investor, Steel Investment Trades Company.

Saqnakshiri LTD also took 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.

Related Story: Miners' Protest Ends In Tkibuli