In Georgia, Tkibuli miners in front of presidential palace demand to amend Labour Code

On November 23, during a protest action in front of the presidential palace in Tbilisi, Tkibuli miners demanded to stop the closure of the mine named after Dzidziguri and modify the provisions of the Labour Code of Georgia, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

According to plans of the company owners, it is expected to close one of two operating mines for reconstruction. In this case, 350 workers of the mine will be sent on indefinite leave. The remaining 250 workers will be transferred to work at the mine named after Mindeli, which at present employs 1000 miners and general-duties workers.

However, the trade unions believe that the mine closure plans are not caused by concern for safety of miners. The miners rest responsibility for the closure of the mine upon David Bezhuashvili, the owner of the company "GIG" and the deputy of the parliamentary minority.

The miners also believe that fluctuations in world prices for coal cannot justify reduction of wages.

"The Georgian Industrial Group delivers its coal on its own cement plants in Rustavi and Kaspi. They export a smaller part at a price of 120 US dollars. And they pay us 6 US dollars per one tonne of mined coal, or 5 percent of the cost of a tonne of coal," miner Anzor Koplatadze has stated.

The miners, who gathered in front of the presidential palace, also expressed their protest against the Labour Code, adopted by the government of Mikhail Saakashvili in 2006.

"According to the Labour Code, an employer has the right to dismiss workers without explanation, without preliminary notification. Rights of staff members of trade unions are not protected. And this Labour Code was adopted by the very Saakashvili government. Therefore, we gathered in front of the presidential palace namely on November 23, marking the anniversary of the "Rose Revolution", to express our protest against the violation of the rights of workers," said Gotcha Alexandriya, Deputy Chairman of the "Association of Georgian Trade Unions".

During their protest action, the miners and trade union leaders were banging against the fence bars in front of the presidential palace, claimed inadmissibility of violation of rights of hired workers. Presidential guards and law enforcement agencies made no rough actions or attempts to suspend the protest action.