UNIONS WARNED NOT TO COLLUDE WITH MINES

MINISTER of Labour and Social Security Joyce Nonde- Simukoko has cautioned mine workers unions in Copperbelt not to collude with management over obtaining contracts from the mines but ensure that the worker’s interests are protected.

Ms. Simukoko said this when she met four mine workers unions in her office over the reports on the impending redundancies in the mines and appealed to the unions, allied workers and the mine contractors to unite. She advised and cautioned the unions over the manner in which they provided information to Government which often was not well collaborated. She urged the unions to allow her ministry carry out a proper investigation over the challenges facing the mining sector. “You need to be briefing the ministry regularly on the issues the mine workers are facing so that the union leaders are not accused of colluding with the mine management. When the unions remain quiet the workers feel betrayed. As union leaders, you are quiet and not forceful and that is why there is suspicion that you have been bought,” Ms. Simukoko said. The unions explained that they had received information on the current impending redundancies and that they were not going to accept the reduction in labour. They also indicated in the meeting that the justifications given by the mines for the closure of shafts were not convincing. They alleged that mines were trying to evade payment of sales tax hence the closure of shafts and that the shafts that the mines had shut down were not labour intensive because the new mines were using the same shafts and making profits. The unions requested to be included in the investigations to be carried out by the officers from the Ministry of Mines to enable them provide their input. Mopani Copper Mine has written notifications of redundancies to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security twice this year. The first one was made in March, 2019 and affected the Malcom Watson Hospital involving 160 workers but the list was finally trimmed to 50 employees who were separated. The second one was written on April 15, 2019 and is expected to affect close to 615 employees and the justification for the redundancy is that the company will cease operations of the Mindolo and central shafts. Since 2009, the Ministry of Labour has received several notifications for redundancies citing operational challenges despite assurances that the mine would be made more efficient with time and allow for more recruitment of labour.