Taiyuan refuses to compensate illegal miners

The decision by the municipal government of Taiyuan to no longer compensate miners of their families if they are involved in accidents in illegal mines has sparked off a fierce debate, also in the official media. The People's Daily summerizes (in a translation by CDT)

Should the government “pay the check” for workers who die at illegal mines? The admonition from Taiyuan Bureau of Land Resources brought on disputes from many quarters. Advocates said that to fight illegal mines the government should adopt multiple resolutions. It should not only heavily punish illegal mine owners, but should also punish peasant workers who participate in illegal mining. Opponents said that aside from the enticement of rich returns from illegal mines, the government’s misconduct should also be blamed for the existence of illegal mines, thus the government should take a certain responsibility for peasant workers whose interests are damaged while working at illegal mines.