A recent meeting of the Standing Committee on Foreign Policy
and Security was held behind closed doors as members thought  the subject under discussion – employment of
Mongolians in the Oyutolgoi project – was too sensitive for a public hearing.
Minister of Finance S. Bayartsogt reported to the committee that not enough
skilled Mongolians have been found to work during the construction phase, due
to begin soon, and sought permission to import 2,600 Chinese workers. The
investing companies are ready to employ Mongolians as not less than 60% of
their total employees, which works out to 3,900. The problem is that the
Investment Agreement also ensures that only qualified people will be employed.

The Minister’s report that just about 1,000 adequately
qualified Mongolians have been identified to pave roads and build power lines
did not please members of the Standing Committee. They suggested tagging
under-qualified Mongolians to the work force so that they could be trained on
the job.

So far Oyu Tolgoi LLC has given work to around 1,500
Mongolians and will offer temporary employment in Ulaanbaatar to 3,000 people
at MNT180,000 a month. Both Minister of Minerals and Energy D. Zorigt and
Minister of Social Welfare and Labor T. Gandhi have clarified that this program
is not under the terms of the Investment Agreement.

Members of the Standing Committee wanted to know why 14,000
young Mongolians have registered for 3,100 jobs in South Korea as industrial
workers when mining activity is on the rise in the country.