More robust government action be taken to stop migrant jade miners

16 August 2016
More robust government action be taken to stop migrant jade miners
Workers at a jade mine area in Kachin State. Photo: Mizzima

Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Minister Ohn Win vowed yesterday to keep migrant workers out of Myanmar’s jade mine sites where they often scavenge for the gems in dangerous slag-heaps and other tailings left by mining operations, RFA reported on 15 August.
Ohn Win said the government plans to start checking the entrances to the mining areas for illegal migrant workers in an effort to stop the scavengers.
While he promised more robust government action, Ohn Win acknowledged the difficulty presented by the task.
While large-scale, licensed mining operations take the main share of the ore, there is enough jade in the tailings that a scavenger can earn $300 per month or more.