OT LLC assures Minister that Oyu Tolgoi's work runs normally

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Minister and the state secretary of the Labour Ministry Ya.Sanjmyatav and P.Gantulga Tuesday received administrative officials of the Oyu Tolgoi LLC. The visitors--Michael Beck, the vice president of Human Resources and Capability Development at Oyu Tolgoi LLC and R.Sodkhuu, the OT executive director-- said that open pit, concentrating plant and other sections and workshops are working normally, and that some 7 thous. Mongolians are working there so far. "The information about firing some 2,000 employees at the LLC due to shutting of the underground mine was received rather negatively by our society," Sanjmyatav stressed and said he wants to get a real information on a present situation and to discuss matters that might be appropriate for it. Mr Beck replied that a financial problem with additional financing for the underground mine made the company annul contracts with several executor companies, but 22 other companies are still working with the OT LLC. There is no information from them about canceling contracts or firing workers, he added. The OT LLC decided to fire 61 employees but it is seeking an opportunity to transfer them to other sections or divisions, and, in accordance with the labor law, the company intends to run talks with the Trade Unions to discuss the compensation issues, Beck went on, adding again that he is not able to give details on the matter.. Ending the meeting, the Minister told the visitors to give him as soon as possible an information about number of the employees fired and to have the contractor-companies work with less risks.