Following increasing pressure from miners the Turkish government was forced to close the three mines until safety standards could be restored.

The majority of workers at the Soma mines are contractors who get paid about half of the already meagre amount permanent workers get and they also receive fewer benefits.

Permanent workers at the Soma mines belong to mineworkers union Maden-Is but many were reportedly unhappy with the union, resulting in the president being forced to resign amid accusations the union was working with Soma.

Workers are calling for an independent union with enough power to close the mines if safety standards are breached.

The Chamber of Mining Engineers has been campaigning to change various mining regulations, including those that prevent contract workers from joining workers unions.

A lack of support for miners spurred them towards seeking stronger union ties when facing government opposition.

In the aftermath of the mine disaster in Manisa that killed 301 Soma workers, protests broke out across the country, fuelled by the open contempt Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan showed for the miners.

Tensions were sparked by a public statement released by the PM in which he declared that “death is the destiny of coal miners”.

He also allegedly threatened and physically attacked protesting miners.

Lignite coal production nationwide increased tenfold between 2003 and 2012, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

In 2012 the owner of Soma Holding boasted reduced costs of extracting the coal to $23.80 ($A25.44) a tonne from $130 in 2005.

Given the reaction of the miners, health and safety would have seen more than its fair share of budget cuts.