Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 7 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
A strike of Kumtor Operating Company's employees hit Kyrgyz Kumtor gold mine on Feb. 7, Kyrgyz Central Committee of the mining and metallurgical trade union reported.
The strikers demand Kumtor Operating Company to compensate their payments to Kyrgyz Social Fund, which were not realized by the company in previous years.
According to the Committee, Kumtor Operating Company made the necessary payments in 2010 and 2011 following a request from the Kyrgyzstan Federation of Trade Unions, but has begun partially withheld workers' wages for these payments since January of 2012. Thus, employee's salaries decreased greatly.
Moreover, Kumtor Operating Company's employees demand to transfer insurance payments to their private personalized accounts for 1993-2009.
According to the Trade Union, the company continues to realize the required minimum of work to prevent industrial accidents, people injury or company property damage.
Kumtor Gold Mine is the second-highest gold mining operation in the world. The mine is 100 percent owned by the Canadian mining company, Centerra Gold, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Kumtor Gold Company.