The 10-day strike, which began at Kinross' massive Tasiast gold mine on 8 August, has ended. According to the company, the strike had “minimal” impact on gold production. It has, however, been reported that amid the 10-day shutdown, rating experts at the Bank of Montreal downgraded Kinross and removed the expansion of the Tasiast mine from the company's production forecasts.
About 1,500 workers, representing 98% of the mine's labour force, were reported to have walked off the job on 8 August in demand of better health coverage and respect for Mauritania's labour code. The conflict seems to have begun when managers demanded the mine remain in operation during Eid al-Fitr. The strike, called by Mauritania's main trade union confederation the CGTM, has been resolved under terms that have not been made public.
The International Trade Union Confederation, with which the CGTM is affiliated, is demanding "urgent clarification" on the fate of one worker allegedly found dead under "obscure circumstances" near the mine site during the strike.
For more news and expert analysis about Mauritania, please see Mauritania Politics & Security.
© 2013 Menas Associates
© 2013 Menas Associates
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