Do Luong: Mineral exploitation enterprises do not pay attention to labor safety

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of April 2, the Economic - Budget Committee led by Mr. Pham Anh Tuan - Provincial Party Committee member, Chairman of the Provincial Labor Federation, Deputy Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council, conducted supervision of the implementation of the law on the management and protection of mineral resources at a number of mines in Do Luong district.

Also attending were comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Party Inspection Committee; Nguyen Bang Toan - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs; representatives of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Supervision at the quarry in Tru Son commune.

Find out the problems of sand mining enterprises in Trang Son commune.

Supervising at Tru Son stone mines of 99 Materials Joint Stock Company; My Son stone mine of Pha Ngoc Company Limited and Trang Son sand mining site of Thai Cuc Resources Development Investment Company Limited, the working group found that all mines have been licensed by competent authorities and are operating normally. In general, enterprises fully comply with legal regulations on management and protection of mineral resources, including resource tax, land rent tax, environmental protection tax... Enterprises are also concerned with ensuring salary regimes and paying social insurance for employees on the payroll (except for seasonal contract workers). However, through supervision, at Tru Son stone mine of 99 Materials Joint Stock Company, there are still high risks of occupational safety loss, and environmental protection work is not guaranteed. At the mine sites, there are no regulations on occupational safety as well as environmental remediation and protection in mining; mining processes are not guaranteed...

The monitoring delegation also clarified some shortcomings and difficulties in implementing policies and laws on mineral resource management and protection. The delegation also noted some recommendations from enterprises to create higher efficiency in the management and protection of mineral resources in general and in Do Luong district in particular, from which to make recommendations to all levels and sectors for resolution.

After supervising at a number of mining facilities, in the afternoon of the same day, the Economic - Budget Committee - Provincial People's Council conducted supervision of compliance with the law on management and protection of mineral resources at the People's Committee of Do Luong district.

Working with the People's Committee of Do Luong district, the monitoring delegation found that, in recent times, the district has taken many measures to disseminate and popularize laws related to mineral exploitation management; organized inspections and urged enterprises to comply with regulations on environmental protection and awareness of labor protection for workers. The district issued many documents directing, leading, and strengthening inspection and examination work in conjunction with administrative handling and economic recovery with an amount of more than 560 million VND (within 3 years 2011-2013). In addition to focusing on inspecting and examining licensed mines, the district directed agencies and People's Committees of communes to protect unlicensed mines of raw mineral resources and handle illegal mining activities.

Comrade Pham Anh Tuan suggested that Do Luong district continue to strengthen state management of mineral exploitation activities.

Do Luong district leaders reported to the monitoring delegation the limitations and shortcomings in mineral exploitation in the area.

At the meeting, the monitoring delegation also requested Do Luong district to clarify weaknesses and shortcomings in mineral management in the area; clarify the causes and responsibilities of all levels and sectors in mineral exploitation management. That is, mineral exploration, exploitation, processing and use activities are complicated in Do Luong. Management and control of violations of labor safety and salary regimes of workers at mineral exploitation facilities are still limited; there are still violations of environmental protection; dust and smoke affect residential areas and workers themselves. Illegal mineral exploitation is still occurring in the area, especially construction sand.

The monitoring delegation requested Do Luong district to pay attention to the mining process after licensing, which is the basis for handling businesses that violate the law in mineral mining; prevent the situation of mining without a license; and strengthen inspection of the implementation of environmental impact assessment reports for mining sites.

Minh Chi