Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) ZCTU urges Govt to stabilise economy

ZCTU urges Govt to stabilise economy
November 26, 2008

The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions, ZCTU, has advised Government to put in place immediate measures to stabilise the current economy crisis, which was the threatening thousands of jobs in the mining industry.

ZCTU Acting Secretary General, Ian Mkandawire, said government should quickly step in and discuss the current crisis facing the mining industry with a view to stabilise the employment situation in the sector.

Mr Mkandawire told ZANIS in Kitwe today that it was worrying that close to 300 mine workers at Bwana Mkubwa Mine in ndola have lost their jobs while another 26 workers have been sent on forced leave at Chambishi Metals.

He said according to reports received, there were more eminent retrenchments at other mine companies and that this would impact negatively on both the economy at national and household levels.

He said the mining companies should not use the current global financial crisis as excuse to retrench workers because the financial crisis has not affected the economy on a large scale apart from affecting the global Copper prices.

Mr Mkandawire observed that mining companies should not use the global financial crisis to get back at government as a way of expressing their displeasure over the mineral tax regime which government introduced this year.

ZANIS/ENDS/LK/SJK

Labels: IAN MKANDAWIRE, ZCTU

posted by MrK @ 12:44 AM