Your trusted source

The leadership of Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) has resorted to "terrorist tactics" to intimidate its employees, one of them told Panorama.am in response to the company's statement on the ongoing strike.

Reports suggest that the company is considering severe measures against striking workers, including dismissals.

“We have been repeatedly threatened. This is a recurring issue. Even the labor union attempted to dissuade us from striking, warning that we could be fired. Essentially, we are being threatened with dismissals simply for voicing our concerns,” said Vahe, one of the strikers.

More than 700 ZCMC employees have gone on strike since Friday morning, with workers from its main workshop at the forefront. Their demands for a pay rise and better working conditions have been ignored for months.

“For a long time, we have attempted to start a constructive dialogue with our employer amid lack of open communication channels. We have tried to present our demands for salary revisions. Before the strike, we collected signatures and immediately faced obstruction from the employer. About 170 employees from our enrichment plant alone joined the protest. The number of strikers is even higher since workers from other workshops also collected signatures and joined the protest,” the employee from Kajaran said.

Employees first raised concerns about low wages two months ago, but management remained unresponsive.

“Fifteen days ago, the workers of our shop began collecting signatures, and even before that, employees from the open pit mine had initiated a similar effort. However, these appeals have been completely disregarded. There is no mechanism for open communication, and we have not met with ZCMC's senior management. We reported our concerns verbally through department heads, but it produced no results,” the ZCMC worker explained.

He emphasized that wages should at least ensure a decent standard of living and pointed out that their salaries are lower than those at similar mining companies in Armenia

“For my specific role, I can say that workers in comparable positions at other mines earn 20-30% more than I do. Given the scale of this industry, ZCMC could afford to invest in its workforce, particularly in healthcare and preventive measures to mitigate work-related illnesses,” the worker stated.

Apart from low salaries, the employees also highlight hazardous working conditions that pose serious risks to their health.

“There aren’t even basic ventilation systems despite the use of toxic substances in production. There are no essential safety measures in place to protect workers’ health," the employee lamented.

This is not the first time ZCMC employees have raised concerns about the working conditions. Strikes took place in 2021 and 2023, but the situation remains unchanged, and violations of workers' rights persist. The protesters believe the company exploits the fact that ZCMC is the main employer in the community and is trying to silence them with threats of dismissal.

“Our salaries haven’t been raised since 2018,” said Hayk, another striking employee.

He noted that workers are currently protesting outside, in their vehicles, and even within the workplace, adding that the strike will continue until their demands are met.

Beyond labor issues, the mine has also contributed to significant environmental problems. Operating since Soviet times, the facility has inflicted considerable damage on the surrounding area. Residents report that a massive dust cloud forms over Kajaran due to mining operations twice a week.

“Every three days, a dense cloud of dust rises over Kajaran. Within a day, a thick layer of dust - about 3-4 millimeters - settles on laundry and cars. This is a visible problem that everyone can see. The open pit mine is severely impacting the environment. It feels like the entire city is inside the mine,” said a local resident who wished to remain anonymous.

ZCMC has been developing the Kajaran deposit since 1952. The mine covers an area of 421.2 hectares with reserves of 550 million tons of ore. Since 2016, ZCMC has been extracting 22 million tons of ore annually.