Company behind Turkish mine disaster that killed nine fires 187 workers

The Anagold company, responsible for the deaths of nine miners at a gold mine in Erzincan province, has laid off 187 workers citing “financial difficulties.”

Monday August 19 2024 01:47 pm

Osman Çaklı / Gazete Duvar

Anagold, the company that made headlines after nine workers were killed in a landslide at its mine in the İliç district of eastern Erzincan province in early 2024, has laid off 187 workers, citing "financial difficulties."

The company has sent an email to the workers announcing the mass layoffs and said, "We want to emphasize that this decision is not directed at you individually, but rather an unavoidable decision due to the financial difficulties our company is facing."

Mert Batur, lawyer of the Independent Mine Labor Union, said, “They set an illegal criterion (for layoffs). They are trying to dismiss those whose retirement period has come, those who have received disciplinary penalties, and workers working in sections (of the mine) whose licenses have been canceled. We are also considering the possibility of discrimination based on union membership.”

The lawyer stated that Anagold had made a statement in June that they had no plans for mass layoffs in the short term. The lawyer noted that the mass layoff decision should have been approved by the relevant ministry and communicated with the labor unions.

In February, a cyanide-laden heap leach pile collapsed at the mine operated by Anagold Mining in Erzincan’s İliç district, a joint venture between Canadian SSR Mining and Turkey’s Çalık Holding, known for its close ties to the government.

As a result, nine miners were buried under the soil and could not be found for months. The body of the last miner was discovered as late as June.

Within the scope of the prosecutor's investigation, six people including senior executives who were found to be primarily at fault in the incident were arrested.

The Environment Ministry announced that the environmental permit and license of the mine were canceled a few days after the disaster. However, the miners’ lawyers have stated that the company has been preparing to continue its operations.

(English version by Can Bodrumlu)