Miners' strike: Ombudsperson is ready to supervise talks between the company and miners

Georgian Ombudsperson Nino Lomjaria is ready to supervise the negotiation process between the Georgian Manganese company and miners on strike in the western town of Chiatura.

The statement came after nine days of protest, where a few of the 15 miners who are on the hunger strike, sewed their mouths.

"I came to see and speak with miners. I do not have a mandate on all of the issues which are raised during the process. However, there are topics which are in the responsibility of the Public Defender's office, "Lomjaria said.

She stated that there are signs that the labour code is violated regarding the miners, who work 12-hour working day for two weeks.

"They also say that the food provision was very poor," Lomjaria said.

She spoke about the third demand of the miners, concerning ecology and banning the movement of heavy vehicles of the Georgian Manganese in Chiatura, which pollute the environment.

"The iconological situation in the town is severe. The company has to pay millions of worth fines for damaging the nature and the environment. As far as I know, the fines have not been paid so far," she said.

The Georgian Manganese says that the food problem will be resolved and their vehicles will not move in the town. However, they say that the demand for the 50- percent rise in salaries is unrealistic.

They offer a 25 percent increase, which is unacceptable for the miners, who say that most of them have 500-600 GEL salary.

They say the salaries must be increased by 30 percent at least.

The Georgian Manganese reports that the protest is illegal and that they might sue the miners, stating that the company loses one million GEL daily due to the protest.

The company says that they have 3,200 employees, and the average salary is 1,000 GEL.

Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated that miners' demands are 'objective and fair' and urged the parties to hold dialogue to arrive at a solution as soon as possible.

Georgian Manganese, LLC (GM) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Miami, Florida-based Georgian American Alloys (GAA).

Based in Georgia, GM is the country's top producer and exporter of silicomanganese.

GAA's Georgian holdings comprise three divisions: GM's Chiatura Manganese Mine, a manganese ore mining operation, GM's Zestafoni Ferroalloy Plant, a silico-manganese processing plant, and Vartsikhe, the hydroelectric facility which powers the Chiatura mine and Zestafoni plant.