**Miners Protest in Tbilisi**
Hundreds of miners from the town of Chiatura marched to the capital, Tbilisi, on March 24. They rallied outside the Government Administration building to protest the shutdown of mining operations by Georgian Manganese.
The company’s decision has left 3,500 workers without a job and three months of unpaid wages. The protesters are demanding that the government take over the manganese industry and pay the owed salaries.
**Demands**
Protest leader Tariel Mikatsadze addressed the crowd and outlined their key demands:
* Immediate payment of three months’ unpaid wages
* State takeover of manganese extraction and processing with worker participation
* Comprehensive health insurance for Chiatura residents due to air pollution concerns
* Investigation into Georgian Manganese’s business activities since 2006
* Creation of a dedicated fund for Chiatura using 5% of manganese export revenues
**Protest**
After gathering outside the government building, protesters marched to the Public Broadcaster demanding media coverage. Demonstrators carried banners that read “Quarry for the country, profit for the people.”
The Social Justice Center condemned Georgian Manganese’s decision to lay off workers without consultation, calling it a “gross violation of labor rights.” The organization urged the company to pay wages, halt mass layoffs, and disclose financial data.
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