AlbChrome got out of Bulqiza
The explanation, injustice and death of the miners left
On 20th of December 2020 the news about the departure of AlbChrome company from the largest mine in Bulqiza was made official. Its shares were sold to the Turkish company Yildirim International Mining Investments B.V. AlbChrome is fleeing, but exploitation, injustice, and the deaths of miners during its administration remain.
In Bulqiza, AlbChrome company will be remembered mostly for four things:
Flagrant favoritism by the state
AlbChrome came to Bulqiza 9 years ago, during the rule of Sali Berisha, buying from the company Albanian Chrome all the shares of the 30-year concession of the mine. The opposition of the time, led by Edi Rama, had numerous criticisms calling it a favor to the owner of AlbChrome, the oligarch Samir Mane. But with the coming to power, Edi Rama extended the concession for another 10 years, even though the investments foreseen in the contract were not fulfilled.
The state financed Samir Manen for the opening of the Klos Tranverbank, justifying the reopening of the Klos Enrichment Factory but the latter was never put to work. The money provided by the state was used to reduce the owner’s costs for extracting water from the mine and building an HPP with this water. State funding has also been received for Ferrochrome factories in Burrel and Elbasan.
Year after year AlbChrome has had favors in terms of reducing or removing taxes and royalties. Especially in recent years, the royalty has been removed altogether even with the justification of the pandemic. This has not been accompanied at all by the improvement of miners’ wages or conditions, rather it happened at a time when Albchrome had barbarically suppressed union organizations by the workers themselves.
Deaths and accidents at work
During the nine years of AlbChrome mining, nine miners have died. The last case was in May this year. The relatives of some of these workers have not even been given life compensation, or have been locked in court doors. Even the company shamelessly still denies the deaths of these workers, even though they are public cases.
The accidents have been countless, but AlbChrome has used every means to avoid being made public. In most cases, the workers were not even compensated for the accident, leaving it to the workers themselves. For the past three or four years, AlbChrome has also refused to accept health reports.
For at least two years, according to Labor Inspectorate reports, Albchrome has been the company with the highest number of accidents at work. This has come as a result of rising labor rates and indiscriminate exploitation of the mine.
Barbaric exploitation of chromium reserves
With the opening of the deep well, began the barbaric exploitation of chromium reserves in the Bulqiza mine. Mass exploitation machinery was introduced at all active levels of the mine, significantly increasing chromium extraction and shortening the life of the mine.
The increase in the use of chromium reserves was accompanied by the intensification of the use of miners, whose rates are constantly increasing, but with no payment. The salaries miners receive at AlbChrome do not differ much from the salaries they received in 2013. Not to mention the fact that old age at work, hardship, etc. are not paid, at a time when the risks to life are extraordinary, especially from the presence of methane gas in the mine.
Fierce fight against trade unionism
Despite this situation, the organization and raising of the voice of the miners have not been lacking in these years but the responses from AlbChrome and the state on its side have been harsh and illegal.
In 2017 workers spontaneously organized to demand rights by staging a protest in front of the company.
Miners Ferat Kurti and Bajram Duka were fired for this, while dozens of others were warned of dismissal.
The puppet union of Kol Nikolla and Taf Kolec was on the side of the company, against the workers.
In 2019, after a spontaneous organization demanding more rights, the United Miners Bulqiza Trade Union (SMBB) was founded by the miners themselves. Just five days after the announcement in the center of Bulqiza, AlbChrome fired the mayor Elton Debreshi. Later, three members of the Trade Union Council: Beqir Buricin, Behar Gjimi, and Ali Gjeta.
The company, state institutions in its service, the corrupt unions of Kol Nikolla and Gëzim Kalaja opposed the several-day strike of the miners. A long process of falsification of documentation by the above-mentioned actors followed, unscrupulous threats and pressures on workers, just to prevent their independent organization. The media was shyly silent about oligarch Samir Mane’s money.
Today, after nine years, Albchrome owner Samir Mane is several times richer, leaving behind poorly paid, mutilated, and threatened miners, misused mineral resources, and a social ruin in Bulqiza. Its dizzying profits from Bulqiza chrome are invested outside Albania. Meanwhile, the new Turkish owners seem to be following the same path as their predecessor, making a pact with the servile and corrupt colleagues Kol Nikolla and Taf Koleci, the infamous Gëzim Kalaja and his pseudo-union.
The United Miners of Bulqiza Trade Union (SMBB) calls on all miners to unite and demand the rights that have long been denied to us. Together we can win a dignified collective contract.
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