25 May 2004 11:12
Russian speaker voices concern as Duma probes mine dispute
[Presenter] Hearings are being held at a key committee of the State Duma today in connection with the protracted
hunger strike by miners at the Yeniseyskaya mine [in Khakassia]. Our parliamentary correspondent Olga Belayeva is
speaking to us live and will tell us about it in more detail. Hello Olga.
[Correspondent] Hello, Sergey. Yes, I would remind you that on Friday [21 May] deputies expressed concern over the
situation at the Yeniseyskaya mine. They are worried that there could be a domino effect - a similar situation with
failure to pay wages can be seen not only at the mines but at other industrial enterprises as well.
Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov had talks today with the head of the republic, [Khakassia Prime Minister] Aleksey Lebed.
The leader of the mine trade union and a representative of the owner, and also officials from the prosecutor's
office and the Justice Ministry have been invited to the meeting of the committee, and Boris Gryzlov regards this
meeting as very important.
[Gryzlov] There will be detailed talks today about what has to be done to prevent such incidents from arising in
future, and also about how to make prompt use of the resources of the criminal code to bring negligent owners to
account. Because what happened at this mine demonstrates that, in effect, six months passed from the time when the
actual precedent of failure to pay wages arose until the time when a criminal case was opened and some kind of
investigation was started.
[Correspondent] Deputies believe the government has to pay very serious attention to labour relations, not only at
state but also at private enterprises.
[Radio Russia] |
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