Assessing the conditions under which miners work in Serbia cannot be summarized with a single assessment, as the state of affairs in mines varies widely. While some mines boast high investments in equipment and protective gear, others witness only cosmetic upgrades, and there are those where excavations mirror practices from the 19th century. Unions argue that even though wages, mostly above the national average albeit not universally, fail to reflect the full weight of the labor that earns the “bread of seven crusts.”
In Serbia, just over 30,000 people are employed in the mining sector. Of course, not all are on the ground; a significant portion includes support services, from maintenance to commercial activities. About one-third of this number is engaged in mining pits, shafts, and surface mines. The highest number of employees, around 14,500, work in coal mines, where conditions are toughest, investments are minimal, and salaries are the lowest. According to the latest available data, the average salary in this sector was just over 123,000 dinars, with employees in coal mines earning around 120,000, those in oil exploitation earning 133,000, and those in metal mines earning 135,500. Support services, on the other hand, earn no more than 94,000 dinars.
President of the Independent Union of Miners in Serbia Zijin Copper in Bor, Vladimir Stefanović, confirms these average amounts after the first raise this year in his company. However, he emphasizes that not everyone receives the same pay. He points out discrepancies between different divisions within the company, with the Smelting and Refining section enjoying higher salaries compared to those in the Majdanpek mine. Stefanović also sheds light on disparities in safety and investment between different mining entities.
In the private sector, conditions also vary. For instance, the Lece mine near Medveđa, formerly part of Miroslav Bogićević’s Farmakom Group, is now bankrupt but still operational. Although workers have lost their right to preferential retirement, they continue to receive salaries, albeit not high ones. However, conditions are far from ideal, especially with the bankruptcy limiting investment opportunities.
In summary, the mining landscape in Serbia presents a spectrum of conditions, from well-equipped and safer operations to those grappling with outdated practices and inadequate safety measures. Despite the challenges, the sector remains a crucial component of the Serbian economy, driving both employment and industrial output.
