Since February 28, thousands of miners in Chiatura, Georgia, have been protesting and demanding the state to take over the management of underground mineral extraction after the Chiatura Management Company filed for bankruptcy, with 3,500 workers left laid off. The company, a Georgian Manganese contractor, has struggled to pay full salaries because of global price drops and reduced profitability.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze touched upon the issues, rejecting the idea of state interference, saying it is ‘fundamentally wrong’ and pointing out global challenges that mining companies face nowadays. He expressed hope that they would find a solution despite the difficulties.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Miner Tariel Mikatsadze called for negotiations rather than public statements, arguing that the only solution was for Georgian Manganese to leave Chiatura. A meeting of the ‘Tripartite Commission for Social Partnership’ was held last week, where government officials, trade unions, and employers discussed the crisis and agreed to form a working group to find a solution.
In a separate but relevant issue, Residents of Shuktuti village have long been accusing Georgian Manganese of damaging their homes and agricultural land without any financial compensation.
