UPDATE 2: Siberian goldminers end strike after wage hike promise

(rewrites)

NOVOSIBIRSK/KRASNOYARSK/MOSCOW, May 18 (PRIME) -- Several dozen workers of a Siberian gold mine belonging to gold producer Uzhuralzoloto agreed to end their strike after a promise to increase wages, a Labor Ministry official said on Thursday.

“A decision to raise coefficients from 0.3 to 0.7 to rippers and to 0.5 to time workers was taken during negotiations with the owner of the mine. The workers have decided to rise from the mine,” the official quoted Labor Ministry deputy head Ivan Shkolvets as saying.

Eighty-one miner refused to leave the mine because of wage arrears for April, a spokesperson for the regional governor said earlier, although Konstantin Strukov, CEO of managing company YuGK, affiliate of Uzhuralzoloto in charge of the mine, denied any arrears and said that the loss-making mine will be shut down.

“A decision to close the facility has been made, because it is loss-making. All mining works will be discontinued, there are no wage arrears now,” he said.

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