Compensation for miners
The increased compensation standards for the victims of mining accidents should be strictly implemented, says an editorial in the Beijing Youth Daily. An excerpt follows:
The new safety regulation put into use at the end of last year in Shanxi Province rules that the compensation for each miner who dies in a mine accident should be no less than 200,000 yuan (US$24,180).
It is said that the regulation has produced a deterrent effect within the industry.
As there are an increasing number of mine accidents around the country, more attention is being paid to the issue of workplace safety. Raising the compensation standards is seen as a relatively effective measure to curb the problem.
The lives of miners cannot be measured in money. But the increased compensation standards will urge mine owners to rethink about the cost of operations.
They will realize that it is more profitable to increase the daily input in terms of accident-prevention measures and, therefore, enhance work safety.
At the same time, the increased compensation threshold will help alter the unfair status between capital and labour. It allows more respect to be paid to the value of life.
But we cannot get overly optimistic.
As the threshold of laws and rules increases, desire for profit could push people to exploit loopholes, in order to lower costs.
It was common, in the past, to hear of mine owners and local officials colluding to cover up the truth surrounding accidents.
And as the standard of compensation is increased, there will probably be more attempts for such dirty tricks.
Therefore, it is important to implement the compensation standards strictly.
Other excuses, such as the fate of the enterprises and the state of a local economy, should not be accepted when it comes to pay outs.
Furthermore, the links between enterprises and local government should be cut off.
Public departments should shoulder the responsibility of supervising enterprises and upholding justice on behalf of victims.
Otherwise, the new regulation will only be a slap in the face to the memory of lost miners.
Source: China Daily
8 February 2005