Workers of all units of the biggest coal mining company in Bulgaria's western town of Pernik, Otkrit Vagledobiv Mines EAD are on strike for a second day in a row over unpaid salaries.

The coal mining company has a total staff of around 800, according to reports of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency.

The Republika and Obedinen mines are not producing coal because the workers, who are at their workplaces, refuse to work.

Although the Central Flotation Plant was supposed to resume operations on Friday after repair works, this will not happen.

The disgruntled miners insist that they be paid in full amount.

The miners say that they have been fined 20% of their salaries for a third month in a row as a penalty for the failure to meet work volumes stipulated in the contracts.

They say that they have been promised that they will be paid in full once the coal mining company becomes financially stable.

The senior staff of the company has vowed to pay the workers the due amounts for June within 10 days and for July by the end of the month.

Vasko Markov, Deputy CEO of Otkrit Vagledobiv Mines EAD, commented that the company depended on the payments of the National Electric Company (NEK), which owed some BGN 25-26 M to the Republika and Bobov Dol thermal power plants (TPPs) to which the mines supplied coal without getting regular payments for the supplies.

A meeting of trade union representatives with the executive staff of Otkrit Vagledobiv Mines EAD is yet to be held.

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