NUMAW ADVISES MINING COMPANIES OVER EMPLOYMENT PRIORITIES
MINING Companies should give priority to employees of their contractors whenever they want to employ because they have the experience about the operations of the mining industry,’’ National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) president Saul Simujika has said
Mr Simujika said some of the employees of the companies contracted by mine owners do not only have the experience and knowledge
about the operations of mining industry, but were also well qualified such that if they were employed by a mining company, can blend well with those of the respective mining company
In an interview after Labour and Social Security Minister Brenda Tambatamba toured mining companies on the Copperbelt, Mr Simujika said the tour had exposed a number of things which unions needed to work on, to effectively address the plight and welfare of the workers
“Some of the issues which were raised during the tour included the need for mining companies to consider giving priority to employees of their contractors whenever they want to employ.”
Mr Simujika said companies contracted by mine owners should not resist allowing their employees to join unions of their choice so that their interests could be represented.
Mr Simujika said most companies which had been contracted by mining companies were employing their workers on temporal basis, while those who had been employed on permanent were being advised against joining unions.
“Other things which came up during the tour by the Minister, were that most of the companies contracted by mine owners, employ their workers on temporal basis because of short contracts and so it was difficult to allow their workers to join any mine workers unions.”
Mr Simujika also urged Lumwana, Kansanshi and Kalumbila mines to do more than donations in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes by building hospitals, schools and other infrastructure that will benefit and improve people’s welfare in the communities in which they were operating from
He said, a significant CSR programme like constructing hospitals and schools in areas of operations will not only benefit the people , but will also strengthen the relationship between the mining company and the community