KAPAN, NOVEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The majority of the 1,526 employees of Deno Gold Mining Company (former Kapan Ore Mining and Processing Enterprise) went on a without-time-limit strike on November 8. The reason was the statement of the enterprise director Robert Falletta that because of a fall in the prices of precious metals in international market, it is envisaged reducing the number of the company's staff by 60%, while the wages of the remaining employees - by 40%. The strike committee created on the initiative of the trade union chairman Surik Tumanian submitted the demands of the employees to the management of the enterprise. "In case of nonfulfilment of the following points: maintaining the jobs, keeping the wages at the current level, and ensuring normal working conditions, we will demand resignation of you and your management," is said in the letter of demands that the srike committee handed to R. Falletta. According to the strike committee, R, Falletta did not promise to filfil the indicated points and ruled out his resignation. It is noteworthy that in late October the management of Deno Gold Mining Company announced that starting from December 13, a staff reduction (148 people) is planned, while the contracts of another 200 employees will not be extended. By instructions of the Armenian prime minister, the minister of energy and natural resources Armen Movsisian, the minister of labor and social issues Armen Hambartsumian and the minister of economy Nerses Yeritsian went to Kapan, Kajaran and Agarak in order to familiarize themselves with the situation in mining industry.

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