Pakistan: deadly coal mines

More workers have lost their lives in Pakistan's deadly coal mines. In May alone, 18 miners have died on the job. On 19 May, a miner at the Ghazi mine fell through a roof and died on the job(Ed. note: The roof the hanging and the miner died on the job). Just two days later, on 21 May, a worker was electrocuted in the Duki coal field and a landslide killed another miner in the same field.

And on 22 May, three miners were injured in a gas explosion at a Shakot Charat Coal Company mine. PCMLF estimates that Pakistan's coal mining industry employs more than 100,000 workers in 400 coal mines. Miners usually start working at the age of 13 and by the time they reach 30 they become unemployed due to chronic respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, loss of eyesight and injuries. Poverty and lack of employment opportunities force people to work in the mines. Workers are often forced to work more than ten hours a day without proper safety equipment, which is a violation of Pakistan's labour laws. When accidents occur, it is usually the other workers in the mine who are affected first, as there is no access to well-equipped emergency response teams. The International Mineworkers Coordination (IMC) demands the highest level of occupational safety for the physical and mental health of miners on the mines. It demands that this must be guaranteed by the companies. Global safety standards for the protection of health at the highest level for all workers in the mining sector. To this end, the IMC demands that sick and disabled workers continue to be paid full wages.