Report shows that State-owned mines have a higher death toll

Source: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/695F6DC0-0253-451C-A73A-C1F3E576E541.htm

Last year an average of 13 mining-related deaths happened in China every day, with 4,746 people dead in 2,845 accidents, according to official figures.

 However, independent labour groups say that the death toll is closer to 20,000 miners annually, as mine operators tend to cover up accidents to avoid costly shut-downs and fines.

 Why are so many dying? Perhaps bad mining conditions are being kept a secret.

Officials say small and privately run coal mines that fall short of safety standards account for most of the casualties, but large state-owned mines report the higher death tolls.

Thus, accountability for proper working conditions may be very low especially since mining-related deaths are rated highest at state-owned mines. The covering up of such inefficiency is likely to bring the central government quite a bit of negative publicity. I wonder what organizations that seek to improve universal human rights such as Amnesty International will have to say about this.

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