Eleven miners who were summoned to court on Tuesday December 30, after their employer complained that they had taken part in labour protests at Agh-Dareh Mine in Western Azerbaijan, were released later in the day after posting bail.
ILNA reports that the 11 miners are among the seasonal workers who have now been laid off.
On Saturday December 27, a group of Agh-Dareh miners gathered to protest the layoff of 350 of their colleagues, demanding their return to work.
With no response from management, three of the laid-off workers attempted suicide on company property but they were all rescued and one had to undergo surgery.
Management then proceeded to file a complaint against 11 workers, including one who had attempted suicide, claiming they were disturbing the peace.
A labour official in the region has told ILNA that for more than 10 years, the gold miners of Agh-Dareh have only been given seasonal contracts and have been laid off in the cold season, which creates serious problems for their livelihood.
