06 SEPTEMBER 2013www.businessghana.com
Montenegrin bauxite miners continue with strike
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
The Montenegrin government on Thursday said it was uncertain the demands of striking bauxite miners in Niksic could be met.
Some 300 mine workers have been on strike several times this year after not having received their salary for 12 months. Since Aug. 21, workers blocked the export of ore from the premises.
The mine, formerly a state-owned company, ran into severe financial problems after privatization. Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska bought the mine in 2005 when it still had 1,200 workers on its payroll. However, after the company nearly went bankrupt, operations have stalled since 2011.
Workers' representative, Ilija Djilas, said that workers are willing to compromise.
"We are ready to compromise, we can agree that the Hungarina firm give us at least 1,000 euros each because the workers are in big trouble and debts," Djilas said.
Wagon Impe, the current majority owners of the mine from Hungary, offered local workers a payment of 300 euros (395 U.S. dollars).
"Payment of 1,000 euros is very uncertain. The only solution is that the Hungarian firm pay off another advance, but no one can guarantee that," said Predrag Stamatovic, government representative on the board of directors of the bauxite mine.
Under current agreements signed last year, the bauxite mine is obliged to deliver 450,000 tons of ore worth 10 million euros (13.15 million U.S. dollars).
Some 300 mine workers have been on strike several times this year after not having received their salary for 12 months. Since Aug. 21, workers blocked the export of ore from the premises.
The mine, formerly a state-owned company, ran into severe financial problems after privatization. Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska bought the mine in 2005 when it still had 1,200 workers on its payroll. However, after the company nearly went bankrupt, operations have stalled since 2011.
Workers' representative, Ilija Djilas, said that workers are willing to compromise.
"We are ready to compromise, we can agree that the Hungarina firm give us at least 1,000 euros each because the workers are in big trouble and debts," Djilas said.
Wagon Impe, the current majority owners of the mine from Hungary, offered local workers a payment of 300 euros (395 U.S. dollars).
"Payment of 1,000 euros is very uncertain. The only solution is that the Hungarian firm pay off another advance, but no one can guarantee that," said Predrag Stamatovic, government representative on the board of directors of the bauxite mine.
Under current agreements signed last year, the bauxite mine is obliged to deliver 450,000 tons of ore worth 10 million euros (13.15 million U.S. dollars).
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