Workers at the Çöpler Gold Mine in Erzincan, eastern Turkey, staged a protest against the company’s plan to lay off hundreds of employees by blocking access to the mine’s service road.
On August 18, Anagold Mining, which operates the mine, announced it would dismiss workers due to a suspension of operations and ongoing uncertainty following a deadly landslide in February that claimed the lives of nine workers. Reports from Halk TV indicate that Anagold plans to lay off up to 1,800 workers. The company has outlined criteria for the layoffs, including disciplinary records, performance issues, and absences.
In response, Anagold is offering severance packages that include four months’ salary, educational support for children, and relocation assistance for those moving to different cities. Despite these measures, the announcement triggered unrest among the workers. Members of the Bağımsız Maden-İş mine workers union and their families gathered at the site, chanting slogans such as “Give our land back” and marching towards the mine.
The union has called on Anagold to reconsider the layoffs and fulfill its responsibilities to the community and workers, stating, “Anagold has accumulated immense wealth from İliç over the years. Stop committing crimes against the people of İliç. You cannot escape responsibility. The dismissed workers must be reinstated immediately.”
