74 years since the opening of the mine of Bulqiza

This anniversary calls for reflection and reaction

February 18th is the opening day of the mine of Bulqiza for mass exploitation. A few days ago marked 74 years since that day. The balance is as glorious economically as it is tragic in terms of the number of heroic miners who have given their lives through the underground chrome holes.

Millions of tons of chrome have helped build and develop a significant part of Albania, a contribution that has never been returned to Bulqiza. Thousands of miners have worked over the years and continue to work, in conditions they never managed to be dignified. Therefore, the balance of deaths and accidents has been as in a war situation.

The situation is not at all positive even today. In recent months, Samir Manes's AlbChrome company, which has barbarically exploited its chrome reserves, has left the mine of Bulqiza, has suppressed workers and their efforts to organize an independent union, and 9 workers have died while exploiting the mine.

AlbChrome has been replaced by a Turkish company through a process that is not at all transparent, where the workers have not been asked for anything. No one knows the term of the contract, its terms, the role of the state, access to working conditions, etc., but rumors are circulating about the risk of rising rates and falling wages that are already low.

The old and corrupt unions, of Kol Nikolla and Gëzim Kalaja, are in fierce competition over who is more subservient to the new company and who guarantees the “support” of workers to continue to use them as not worse.

Bulqiza has been emptied like never before and is continuing at a frightening pace. They have squeezed not only wealth, but also youth, hope and life.

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