7,000 coal mines to close in crackdown
By Fu Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-31 05:49

Some local governments and officials have been protecting poorly equipped coal mines, where accidents have claimed an average of 18 miners a day in the first six months of this year. In the United States and other developed countries, the annual death toll in coal mines is generally no higher than 40.

Already the central government has attempted to eliminate questions of impropriety by requiring local government officials and leaders of the State-owned enterprises to withdraw their shares in collieries before September 22.

Collusion between government officials and colliery owners worsens the work safety situation and makes it more difficult for work safety departments to address the problem.

"The central government's decision to get tough on the collusion will make safety supervisors' work easier," said Li Wenge, safety director of Provincial Coal Industry Group of Shaanxi.

He said the suspensions will affect many miners. "Those in private and small mines will lose their jobs and their families will become poorer."

Li said he expected the average incomes of workers in State-owned mines to drop because these miners will have to give a portion of their extra incomes to the miners laid off by the suspensions.

"I'm sure the coal supply will not be affected because many State-owned big mines have increased production capacities since last year," Li said.