A total of 20 employees at the Lobvinsky chemical plant suspended work on April 28 demanding over 19 million rubles ($817,500) back pay. Although the factory owners have repaid some of the wage arrears and promised May 8 to repay all the money owed by June 10, no payments have been received.

"The workers are waiting for the plant's management to arrive for talks on the wage payments," the spokeswoman said.

Basic production has been suspended at the Lobvinsky chemical plant, which produces ethanol, carbon dioxide, yeast and household chemicals, and employs a total of 514 workers.