The debt to miners working under shelling in Donetsk region has exceeded UAH 2.35 billion: Volynets
The coal industry of Ukraine is one of the key industries that ensures the stable operation of the energy sector, metallurgy, coke and chemical industry, and utilities. It also plays an important role in achieving energy independence of the country and contributes to its socio-economic development.
However, with the onset of full-scale invasion, the coal industry faced serious challenges. A significant number of mines in Donetsk region ceased their activities due to hostilities. Problems arose not only with coal mining, but also with the working conditions of the miners, who work in extremely difficult conditions under constant shelling, not receiving wages. About this to the journalists of “Vchasno” publication told Mykhailo Volynets, head of the Independent Trade Union of Mineworkers of Ukraine.
According to him, the debt to the miners has reached 2 billion hryvnias. This includes the debts of mines, about which official sources are silent, in particular, four mines of “Lysychanskuvigilla”, four mines of “Pervomaiskuvigilla” and two mines in Vugledar.
“All these mines continued to work since the beginning of the war, extracting coal, which was later used to generate electricity. However, the miners were not paid the money they earned, and they just keep silent about it.”, – emphasized Volynets.
Despite the fact that the state allocated 285 million hryvnias for the payment of wages by Miner’s Day, the situation continues to deteriorate. Since September 1, the debt to the miners has increased to 2 billion 350 million hryvnias.
“On September 12, a meeting was to be held under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk regarding the stabilization of the situation in the coal industry. However, due to changes in the government, its functions were transferred to the Office of the President, changing the direction of the discussions.”, – noted Volynets.
He added that currently there is no clear responsibility for solving the miners’ problems either at the government level or from the relevant ministry, which only deepens the crisis and causes tension among the miners and their families.
