The Union of Mining Workers at Shougang Hierro Perú have complained to the labour ministry over the health threat to workers at the San Nicolás plant from a spill of toxic material from the condensers on 31 July. OEFA (the Organización de Evaluación y Fiscalización Ambiental, a government environmental watchdog) plans to investigate the spill, plus the quality of implementation of the company’s contingency plan.

It was only in January that OEFA ordered Shougang to halt transport and storage of mineral because of the contamination of the area from particulate material. These issues add to a list of charges already brought against Shougang over labour rights, the effects on the environment, and the rights of women.

The union is further aggrieved by what it sees as the “passive and verging on complicit” attitude of the regional governor of Ica and the local mayor.