Chile Miners Compensation



Chile Miners Compensation
The family of one of the 33 miners trapped underground in a mine in Chile is suing the mine owners and also government inspectors. When the lawsuit was announced, a judge ordered for 1.2 million of the mines assets to be frozen, this believed to have happened in order to cover possible compensations costs. The owners of the mine have been accused by the family of safety lapses and the government officials have been accused of negligently allowing the mine to reopen in 2008 following an accident there. The miners are stuck under ground by around 700m below surface level, those stuck are believed to have reacted to calmly to the news that it may take up to four months to get them out. The owners of the mine, the San Esteban Mining Company have denied any wrong doing and refuse to take the blame for the accident occurring. The judge who ordered for the mining firms assets to frozen stated that this decision was made as a precautionary method just in case compensation did have to be paid. The Chile Congress is investigating the accident and attempting to establish why it happened and also who is to blame. The president of Chile, Sebastian Pinera has made it clear that if anybody is found to be responsible for the accident they will be punished. The health and physical state of the miners is considered to be a serious issue, and there are likely to be great detritions as time goes on. The miners are now being supplied with high protein and high calorie foods via a supply shaft, these foods are usually used by astronauts.