Armenian miners continue strike amid 'inhuman' working conditions

A strike by miners at Armenia’s Akhtala Mining and Processing Plant has entered its second week, with workers demanding higher wages and improved working conditions, as a sectoral trade union accused the company of operating under “inhuman” conditions and ignoring efforts at negotiations.

Fifty-two underground miners have been on strike for around 10 days, refusing to return to work at the high-risk mine in northern Armenia. They have been gathering daily at the company’s gates, calling on management to address their demands.

Eduard Pahlevanyan, Chairman of the Branch Union of Trade Union Organizations of Miners, Metallurgists and Jewellers, told Panorama.am on Saturday that attempts to negotiate with the mine management had failed despite formal notification under Armenia’s labour law.

“I officially informed the company and the country’s leadership that I was coming for negotiations within the framework of the collective labour dispute procedure,” Pahlevanyan said. “I waited, but the management ignored us and refused to meet.”

Pahlevanyan said he conducted on-site inspections and interviews with workers, concluding that conditions at the mine violated basic standards of human dignity.

“These are inhuman conditions. A human being cannot work under such circumstances and generate profit at the cost of their life,” he said, adding that documentation would be submitted to the labour inspectorate and the Ministry of Territorial Administration with a request to suspend the mine’s operations.

The union leader said the dispute went beyond social demands and raised broader concerns about worker safety and dignity in Armenia’s mining sector.

According to Pahlevanyan, the employer attempted to replace striking miners by bringing in foreign workers.

“I personally saw Indian workers brought by bus to replace the 52 miners,” he said. “As far as I know, they fled and refused to work under those conditions.”

The company has also sought to hold separate meetings with small groups of workers, but miners have rejected such talks, Pahlevanyan said, adding he saw little chance of a near-term return to work.

The union plans to pursue legal action, including appeals to the labour inspectorate to formally document alleged violations and to the authorities to review the mine’s licence.

Pahlevanyan also warned against any retaliatory measures against striking workers, saying the union would continue to defend their interests.

The strike could expand, he said, noting that employees from other departments had expressed readiness to join it. The Akhtala mine employs an estimated 450 to 500 workers.