Member of Parliament: Only the Death Insurance of Mine Workers at Zemestan-Yurt Was Complete

A member of parliament states that only the 'full insurance' for some workers at the Zemestan-Yurt mine, which suffered an accident on Wednesday, was their 'death insurance,' and several of these individuals have been owed wages for six months to a year. Alireza Ebrahimi, the representative of Azadshahr and Ramian from Golestan province, made these remarks on Thursday, April 14, in an interview with Jam-e Jam Online. He said: 'Some workers have been owed wages for six months to a year and have not had adequate health insurance coverage; only their death insurance seems to be complete.' Another report indicates that the Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, who traveled to Golestan following the explosion at the Zemestan-Yurt mine in Azadshahr, stated that the 'arrears' of the mine workers will be paid. According to the official news agency of the Islamic Republic, IRNA, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh said that 'the arrears from last year have been paid, and the remaining arrears are from the years 2014 and 2015.' ISNA also reported that the Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare announced the establishment of a pension for the families of the victims of the Zemestan-Yurt mine collapse and the formation of a committee to follow up on legal, insurance, and overdue payment issues for the mine workers. Ali Rabiei stated: 'I assure all 270 workers who worked directly in the mine that their wages will not be delayed even for one day until the mine is operational again. This issue is being pursued through employers and unemployment insurance.' According to Mr. Rabiei, the Zemestan-Yurt mine will be closed for at least 'six months.' The coal mine 'Zemestan-Yurt' in Azadshahr, located in the east of Golestan province, exploded yesterday, Wednesday, April 13, due to an increase in methane gas inside it. So far, 22 bodies of the deceased workers have been recovered, and according to Morteza Salimi, head of the Rescue and Relief Organization, 'between six to 13 people' are still trapped in the mine. He also stated that 83 people have been transferred to medical centers by emergency services and the Red Crescent. The Minister of Industry and Mining stated that this mine belongs to the private sector and mentioned that 'the shareholders of this company include not only five thousand retired mine workers but also a lead and zinc company affiliated with the Basij and a company related to Isfahan Steel.' Mr. Nematzadeh added that the Zemestan-Yurt coal mine had 'at least 66 gas detectors, although some workers reported that several of them were malfunctioning and need to be examined.' Alireza Ebrahimi, the representative of Azadshahr, stated that previously some workers had 'warned mine officials about the smell of gas and the risk of an explosion,' which was met with 'indifference.' He called for the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the dimensions of this incident and hold those responsible accountable. In this context, who is responsible for the safety of the Yurt mine? The Minister of Labor: 33 miners died in the explosion at the Yurt mine in Golestan province. The number of victims from the Azadshahr mine has increased to 35; the search continues.