The Group has a total workforce of approximately 1,600. The Group abides by the Russian legal requirements on working time, occupational safety, salaries as well as social guarantees. In addition, Group personnel may be entitled to other benefits, including pensions and medical care. The site camp at Pokrovskiy currently includes houses for personnel, a canteen, a bath and laundry centre, a boiler house and a number of other buildings. Typically employees work and are based in the camp on the basis of ‘15 days on, 15 days off' and work 12-hour shifts, which include a 1-hour meal break and 4 further short breaks. Employee rooms are equipped with televisions and employees have access to a library, lounges and excellent sports facilities. The Pokrovskiy medical centre has high quality facilities and qualified staff. The on-site medical centre has one fully-trained  medical staff member for each 191 workers.  There is an ambulance on site and the centre can benefit from the services of the local hospital on a contractual basis. Annual health screening, including x-ray lung screening is provided for all employees by the Group.

The Group has a number of key staff within Pokrovskiy Rudnik responsible for the management of environmental and social issues including a Director of Corporate Communications responsible for facilitating and encouraging communication between management and mine workers, and between Pokrovskiy Rudnik and the local communities and regional administrations.  The Director undertakes ongoing dialogue with employees to maintain effective internal communication and also manages the ongoing dialogue with local communities, media, non-government organisations and charitable organisations. 

Pokrovskiy Rudnik has a well-established education programme designed to train existing and future employees with skills that will be of value throughout their careers.  We currently have 107 employees enrolled on educational courses (55 in higher education, 52 in secondary education).  The Group also operates a scholarship programme for students. 

Employment within the Group in Russia falls under the Labour Code of the Russian Federation.  The Group believes in providing its staff with first-rate domestic arrangements while they are on duty; including high quality accommodation and canteen facilities, and recreational and sporting facilities.  Employees are eligible for vacation breaks at health resorts, and in 2006 there were 65 such trips subsidised by the Company. 

Health and Safety and the appropriate medical back-up are of a vital consideration for the Group.  The Group provides considerable assistance to medical institutions in the Amur Region and has bought special medical and computer equipment for local hospitals and clinics and sponsored medical students through their training. 

We encourage workers to join the local Trade Union for the mine so that the Group and its workers can undertake a mutually beneficial dialogue on a wide range of issues.  Pokrovskiy Rudnik publishes a free monthly internal newspaper to keep employees up to date on its developments.  In addition, the Group's management undertakes regular consultation sessions with the employees to ensure that there is clear communication within the Group.