Kariba dam construction workers demand pay hike

WORKERS at the US$294 million Kariba dam wall rehabilitation project in Siavonga are demanding 400 percent salary increment.

But at a meeting called to address the matter at the company premises attended workers representatives and district labour officer, management at the )rench construction company indicated that they would only consider increasing salaries after the expiry of current contracts at the end of 'ecember.

The workers said management insistence that that the . , basic salary was within the agreed minimum wage threshold, was unreasonable considering the dangerous environment they were subjected to at the construction site located below the dam wall.

³7he . , monthly basic salary we are getting is not enough to fend for their families let alone send their children to school. The risk we go through at the project site is too great to be paid K1,320,” said the workers who spoke to the 'aily 1ation after the meeting with management.

The Zambezi River Au- thority ZRA has contracted on behalf the Zambian and Zimbabwean Governments a )rench company Ra]el bec to rehabilitate the spillway gates and reshape the plunge pool at Kariba dam wall on the border between the two southern African countries.

Meanwhile, Government has directed company owners in Siavonga district to be consistent in paying monthly salaries to their employees.

Siavonga district commissioner Lovemore .anyama said companies neglecting to pay salaries and failing to abide by the minimum wage will be punished by his office.

“I am directing all those workers receiving monthly salaries of less than . . to immediately report to my office or to the labour officer for immediate action. (ven those workers who have not signed contracts with their employers but are working are eTually directed to bring the matter to my attention and that of the labour officer,” said Mr. .anyama.

+e further said government was concerned about the low salaries paid to workers by Ra]el bec and his office would soon be meeting the management of the )rench company to find a way forward.