KCM workers’ perks ready this month
KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) is expected to pay 40 percent of the total amount each employee has contributed to the pension fund by the end of this month, Mines and Mineral Development Minister, Richard Musukwa has disclosed.
The minister assured that the government would honour its agreement and pay workers at KCM their next installments.
Mr Musukwa said KCM management and unions have agreed to pay off the workers before the end of this month.
He said contrary to assertions that KCM was running at a loss, the mining firm managed to mobilise resources in excess of over $45 million to liquidate in excess of over 5, 865 direct employees’ benefits and paid the first installment of the redundant package.
Mr Musukwa, speaking on ZNBC’s Sunday interview said Government would at all cost ensure that workers at KCM and Mopani Copper Mines do not become destitute as was the case with workers at RAMCOZ in Luanshya.
“This is another system of ensuring that our workers and our people do not wait for their benefits in perpetuity, most of the people’s benefits have been held in trust for a long time, many of them have died without accessing these resources,” he said.
Mr Musukwa said Govern
ment envisaged that after the liquidation process is finished with the fresh injection of investment from the equity partner, the company would be kept afloat and profitable.
He urged employees at KCM to put in their best and build on production to ensure that the company was sustained given the attractive price of the commodity.
Copper prices have hit $10, 000 per tonne on the international market.
“This is the PF liquidation which ensures there is protection of our workers, protection of assets and sustainability, this a government that respects agreements, and this the government that respects the workers not just at KCM but across the country,” Mr Musukwa said.