Home>News Center>China
       
 

China wants to cut coal miners' work day
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-30 14:05

China plans to limit the time coal miners have to spend at work underground to six hours a day in a bid to halt a trend of soaring fatalities in its mining industry, Xinhua news agency reported Thursday.

China wants to cut coal miners' work day
A relative a coal mine blast victim weeps at a coal mine in Loudi, Central China's Henan Province in this picture taken on June 9, 2005. Twenty-two miners were killed in the accident. [newsphoto]
Coal miners are currently made to work eight hours a day on average, exhausting them to the point where they make fatal mistakes and lives are lost, Xinhua said.

"With more sleep and a clearer mind, miners could be more efficient," Yue Fubin, an expert with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the agency.

The intention of cutting the work day to six hours is stated in a new document from the State Council, the country's Cabinet, Xinhua said. It did not say if there was a timetable for when the change should be implemented.

The timing of the new policy may be awkward for the nation's coal mining companies, since China's economy is currently growing at nearly double-digit rates and relies on coal for two thirds of its energy demand.

However, experts told Xinhua that coal mining companies would simply have to add another shift to the current three daily shifts.

Official figures show that more than 6,000 miners died in accidents in China last year. Many fatalities occur at illegally operating mines.

"There is still a lot to do to improve the quality of miners' life, especially for those working for private coal mine owners," said Yue.

"Local social security departments should take more initiative to oversee how the coal mine managers carry out the decision."



Special police detachment established in Xi'an
Panda cubs doing well in Wolong
Suspect arrested in Taiwan
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

Taiwan's KMT Party to elect new leader Saturday

 

   
 

'No trouble brewing,' beer industry insists

 

   
 

Critics see security threat in Unocal bid

 

   
 

DPRK: Nuke-free peninsula our goal

 

   
 

Workplace death toll set to soar in China

 

   
 

No foreign controlling stakes in steel firms

 

   
  No foreign controlling stakes in steel firms
   
  China-made telescopes race to space
   
  'No trouble brewing,' beer industry insists
   
  HK investors cautious on mainland homes
   
  Law in pipeline to ban money laundering
   
  Overseas students test their Chinese abilities
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  News Talk  
  It is time to prepare for Beijing - 2008  
Advertisement