Over 500 workers remain on strike at ArcelorMittal's coal mining operations in Kazakhstan after 154 people abandoned the protest early in the morning Dec. 13 following negotiations with company management, the Karaganda regional government said in a statement.
Kazakh Labor Minister Tamara Duisenova said Dec. 12 at a press conference that 684 workers were participating in the strike action, which now puts their number at 530.
She said the miners were demanding a pay increase of 100% and a reduction of the pension age to 50 as well as a number of other conditions. Duisenova said miners are now being paid between 208,000 Kazakh tenge and 326,000 tenge a month.
"According to the information Karaganda regional government, there are 684 [strikers]. There are representatives from all eight mines — 32 people in all," she said, adding that ArcelorMittal is negotiating terms with the striking workers.
About 200 coal miners began a sit-in at four coal mines Dec. 11, refusing to come to the surface at the end of their shifts. ArcelorMittal confirmed the strike action and said it was providing the workers below ground with hot food and medical attention.
As of Dec. 12, US$1 was equivalent to 334.72 Kazakh tenge.
