Press statement: Oyu Tolgoi provided substantial support for employees to vote

– Oyu Tolgoi implemented all possible measurements in order to reinforce the election law –

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (ot.mn) – Oyu Tolgoi, the copper and gold mine in the South Gobi, has provided substantial support to encourage employees to vote in today’s general election.

All Oyu Tolgoi employees in Dalanzadgad as well as Ulaanbaatar were given the day off work for the public holiday in 28 June 2012, in accordance with the law on the parliamentary election of Mongolia.

In accordance with the law, employees working in their regular roster shift within the project were provided advance notice on 11 May and 28 May 2012 that they could transition their electoral papers down to the South Gobi. None chose to do so.

• All employees from Khanbogd were given time to vote on 28 June and buses were provided to and from site. Buses were also available to Dalanzadgad and Manlai.
• All employees left the mine site for voting were given paid leave. Furthermore:
  • Oyu Tolgoi has cut back some support services at site in order to make it easier for Khanbogd residents to vote.
  • Khanbogd residents are entitled to start work late or finish work early in order to have sufficient time to vote.
• All other Mongolian employees were given the option to return to their home aimags to vote.

At the Oyu Tolgoi site, the day was treated as a work day for those who chose to stay, but double pay was awarded. "Many employees and contractors from across Mongolia decided to stay and work at site", said a company representative.

“We have provided information to employees at all times, up to and including election day. We feel we have offered the best solution to our employees under the circumstances at all stages we have done more than was required by the law to enable our workers to vote”, said the spokesman.

At this critical point of Phase 1 Construction, approximately 3,000 workers were rostered to work on 28 June. The Oyu Tolgoi project is a 24-hour operation with a constantly rotating workforce as it progresses toward commercial production early next year.