FQM unionised workers in pay raise

FQM Trident Limited, has signed a collective bargaining agreement with four unions representing over 2, 500 employees.

The unions include; the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW), Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ), United Mine Workers Union of Zambia (UMUZ) and Miners and Allied Workers Union (MAWU).

In the agreement, basic salaries for all eligible employees will be increased by 11 percent across the board effective May 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

The company will also pay salary arrears relating to the agreed salary increment plus housing allowance effective from January 1, 2022.

The parties also agreed on an interim agreement for eight months for which the salary increment shall be effective May 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, with a full agreement being negotiated to replace this interim one by or before its expiry.

And FQM Trident Limited Human Resource Manager Brighton Mwiinga said the aim of the agreement is to retain compensation package for employees so that the mining firm can continue to attract and retain the best people.

Mr Mwiinga said the agreement is designed to ensure increased productivity through an engaged and motivated workforce.

“For this reason, we always benchmark our conditions of service and pay within the labour market to remain competitive,” said Mr Mwiinga.

On why the agreement is short, Mr Mwiinga said the company is trying to realign the agreement with the accounting, tax, performance management cycles and also to align with the general market that runs from January to December.

And speaking on behalf of other unions, NUMAW FQM Trident Limited branch chairperson Teddy Mwasha said the four unions are happy with the content of the agreement.