Kosovo mine workers end hunger strike after demands met

BELGRADE, Serbia

Workers at the Trepca Mine in Kosovo ended weeks-long hunger strike after their demands for salaries to be paid on time and better working conditions were accepted.

About 300 mine workers in the lead-zinc mine of the state company in the Stanterg village of Mitrovica went on a hunger strike on Oct. 24.

The workers, who are approximately 700 meters (2,297 feet) underground, were demanding the board of directors be dismissed and health insurance be provided.

Representatives of the Trepca Miners' Union told Anadolu that an agreement was reached with the Ministry of Economy and the ruling party at midnight on Thursday.

Some of the workers were weak and had health problems.

An ambulance and healthcare workers were on duty during the hunger strike.

The Kosovo government allocated 1.67 million euros ($1.77 million) to Trepca on Oct. 23 to be used to pay salaries.

Founded by a private British mining company at the beginning of the 20th century, Trepca was among the largest companies in the former Yugoslavia and among the largest lead-zinc and silver ore mines in Europe, with approximately 20,000 employees.

The state-owned company was divided between Albanians and Serbs after the Kosovo War and the country's independence process, but it faces economic difficulties at times due to a lack of investment and falling production.