BNamericas reported that the Bolivian government's proposal to divide the Rosario vein at the Colquiri zinc and tin mine among the cooperatives and salaried workers is not advisable.

Mr Héctor Córdova former president of state miner Comibol said that "It isn't the best idea because the tense relationship among cooperatives and salaried workers has spanned for many years."

Although President Evo Morales terminated the lease and JV the government had with Sinchi Wayra, a subsidiary of Swiss company Glencore International for Colquiri the government is now proposing to hand over 50% of the Rosario vein to the cooperatives. The Rosario vein is expected to be the richest vein of the mine which is located 250 kilometers south of La Paz.

Mr Córdova who resigned last week for personal reasons, emphasized that the cooperatives' method of operating involves demanding new areas without making any exploration investments. The cooperatives aim to enter the mines by any means when they are ready for exploitation, which has led to conflicts with salaried workers in the past because they had developed mines that would then be handed to cooperative workers.

He said that is when protests arise among salaried workers, because they are effectively working for the cooperatives and it's a situation that has been repeated systematically.

The former executive also emphasized that since last week's protests that cost the life of one Comibol worker, the gap between the two sectors has further distanced. This is why the population is against the cooperatives. The government proposed splitting the vein to try to appease the workers who are protecting their jobs and in the past two weeks protests and roadblocks have been staged by the cooperatives.

Source - Business News Americas

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