14:58, 11 November 2016

Don MPs want to add the law on miners' social support

A rally of the participants of the protest action in Gukovo on June 27, 2016. Photo by Valery Lyugaev for the "Caucasian Knot"

The Legislative Assembly of Rostov Region has proposed additions to the draft federal law on regulation of coal mining and social support of miners.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 26 miners-protesters in the city of Gukovo stated that employees of the LLC "Spetsuglestroy", the LLC "Imperiya Chistoty" (Empire of Cleanness), the Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) "Gukovtelekom", the CJSC "Gukovinfokom" and CJSC "Central Power Grid Company" failed to receive their salary debts. According to Akop Babayan, the former foreman of the "Spetsuglestroy", the overall debt to employees of his organization made 4 million roubles.

Since August 22, miners "Kingcoal" Group of Companies have been holding a hunger strike in Gukovo demanding the payment of their salary debts amounting to 300 million roubles. On October 13, miners said that after they received 2 million roubles, payments were stopped.

The above draft law is aimed at eliminating the social injustice in relation to former employees of the coal-mining industry, said the press service of the above Legislative Assembly. According to the document, citizens of retirement age shall enjoy the right to social protection at the expense of the federal budget until the enterprise is liquidated or privatized. The law also defines the rules for receiving the ration of coal by miners.

Since 2005, the miners, who have retired prior to bankruptcy or privatization of an enterprise, received no coal, the "Rostov Gazeta" reports".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Valery Lyugaev

Source: CK correspondent