Ninja” miners form group to protect their rights

Unlicensed gold miners – known as “ninjas” – have formed an organization to protect their rights. They hope the group will improve their working conditions, as well as their relations with government officials. The number of ninja miners is increasing annually. One report puts the current number at 100,000, but other estimates say the actual number might be twice that. Ninja miners earn their living by digging for gold. Many would like to become legitimate miners by working together in a small mine under a new law that regulates small mining operations. Many small mines have already been created under the law. According to reports, most ninja miners are people who migrated from the countryside after losing livestock in zud disasters since 1999. It’s estimated that at least 60 ninja miners die every year due to mining accidents.