Monday, April 19 2021 13:29

ArmInfo.About 40 drivers of the Sotskoye field blocked the road leading to Sotk, as well as the Sotk-Ararat railway line, which transports ore from the Sotskoye field to the gold  recovery factory in Ararat, and demanded that the employer switch  from a piece-rate bonus to a fixed salary.

This was reported to ArmInfo by the press service of GeoProMining Gold, the company that operates the field.  According to the report, the company's  management held a meeting with the strikers and offered to stop the  action, return to work and consider the complaints and demands of  employees within the economic and administrative capabilities of the  company. However, the employees did not agree to a compromise and put  forward an ultimatum to the management to fix the salary in the  amount of 500,000 drams (excluding nologs) regardless of the amount  of work. The company considered it necessary to note that the company  applies piecework - premium payment according to the regulations; the  driver receives a fixed payment of interest in accordance with the  realized traffic volumes (ton/kilometer). In this regard, the company  considers it necessary to provide its explanations:

- Complaints of employees about non-payment of wages by the employer  for four months are not justified. The company has no salary arrears  to its employees.  - Each employee receives a piece-by-piece bonus  payment according to the actual volume of work carried out.

The company's management calls for an end to the unauthorized strike,  and within the framework of a constructive dialogue to consider the  possibility of resolving the situation.

In the event of further downtime, due to the paralysis of production,  the Company will be forced to stop the production process in Sotka  and at the Ararat factory and send the entire team to unpaid  downtime.  The actions of the drivers of the Sotskoye field do not  meet the requirements of the RA legislation and cause significant  damage to the production process of the company, the South Caucasus  Railway - the conveyor of ore from the Sotk to the Ararat factory,  the staff, local communities and the state budget of the Republic of  Armenia.

The Company's management warns that the initiators of the illegal  strike will be brought to justice within the framework of the  employment contract, labor legislation and other regulatory acts of  the Republic of Armenia.

It should be noted that GeoProMining Gold operates the Sotskoye field  and the Ararat gold recovery plant. The company is a major employer,  providing 1,200 jobs in Gegharkunik and Ararat regions. GPM Gold's  total investment exceeds $ 350 million.