A collective protest by Tajik workers at Zarafshon, Tajikistan's largest gold mining company, has revealed a deep crisis in relations between local staff and Chinese management. This, coupled with security concerns in border areas, poses new risks to Beijing's economic presence in the country.
According to Azattyq Radio, the conflict arose over the refusal of the Chinese company Zijin Mining to increase the base salaries of employees complaining of dangerous working conditions and pay discrimination compared to their foreign colleagues.
The discontent stemmed from the stark contrast between the hardship of the work and the level of income: miners' monthly salaries range from 2,000 to 4,000 somoni (approximately $185 to $370 at the current exchange rate). Workers emphasize that these amounts do not cover rising consumer prices and are significantly lower than the salaries of specialists from China. In an official appeal to the administration, the staff demanded that the pay gap be closed and salaries be brought in line with inflation.
The company's management's response fell short of the workforce's expectations:
The request to increase the base salary was rejected.
Instead of salary indexation, a system of one-time holiday bonuses was proposed, taking effect in 2026.
The payments will amount to 200 somoni ($18) on birthdays, 300 somoni ($28) on New Year's, and 500 somoni ($46) on Navruz.
The miners themselves call these measures a formality that does not address the systemic financial burden.
The situation at the Zarafshon mine, which accounts for 70% of Tajikistan's total gold production, is of strategic importance to Dushanbe. The mine has repeatedly received high praise from President Emomali Rahmon, but now the enterprise is becoming a symbol of inequality. The latent discontent of local communities is compounded by a generally alarming agenda: recent incidents near the Afghan border have already caused investors serious concerns about the physical safety of their employees.
Experts note that if Chinese companies continue to ignore demands for transparent management and fair distribution of revenues, labor disputes could escalate into large-scale social protests. This will jeopardize the long-term mining and infrastructure projects that have formed the foundation of the Chinese-Tajik partnership for decades.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
January 20, 2026