About 300 copper smelting
workers in Khatoun Abad, in province Kerman, closed the entrance gate of the
complex to protest the empty promises of officials since Wednesday.
Following the order of the head
of government, about two
years ago, to close the sub-contracting companies and signing direct contract
with workers, the 2400 workers at Meiduk copper complex and copper smelting
plant Khatoun Abad were joined the investment copper company. The investment
copper company promised the workers to hire them one year after the expiration
of their contracts by direct contracts. Now, after the end of 18 months, the
workers are still up in the air.
Since the workers closed the
entrance gate on Wednesday, the supply of raw materials and concentrate is cut off
and the factory shutted down.
Last night with intervention of
special forces unit the protesting workers were dispersed, but they are still
on sit-down strike inside the complex and demanding the implementation of
provisions of the contract.
One of the factory officials
said: there will be no employment at the private copper company. He added that
the best condition is the hiring by the copper investment company, which is also
the current situation of these workers.
It is to mention that on 24th of January
2004 the protest of copper miners of Khatoun Abad was attacked from the air and
ground; four workers were shot dead.
