KZBlog

An interesting article on RFE/RL, Kazakhstan: Corruption, Idle Promises Blamed For Mining Accidents, indicates that while the company Areclor-Mittal claims to have spent money on improving safety conditions, workers and local NGO workers say the mines are extremely unsafe. Others accuse the central and local government of overlooking problems in order to boost foreign investment and the output of raw materials in Kazakhstan.

What I find particularly sad about the whole event is that the after an accident miners go on strike for higher salaries. Then they go back to work. If the mines are really unsafe, a higher salary is not going to help you–it won’t even help your widow or orphaned children. I hope this time the miners stay on strike until they get better safety conditions.