Maravi

MUZ urges ‘reasonable’ salary increments for miners

MUZ urges ‘reasonable’ salary increments for miners
By Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Thu 07 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT

MINE workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) secretary general Oswell Munyenyembe has warned of industrial unrest this year if foreign mine investors in the country do not offer reasonable salary increments to miners.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Munyenyembe said there was no need for investors to fail to give miners reasonable salary increments this year when the copper prices on the international market had gone up.

"As you know we have been negotiating with different mine houses over salaries. We have been negotiating with KCM (Konkola Copper Mines), Mopani and the Chinese mine investors. We are not getting what we are expecting. We want to warn them that we are not going to accept anything less than the inflation rate. The copper price has now reached US$7,454 per tonne on the international market, so there is no justification for us to fail to get what we want. If they do not give us what we want, they will see more industrial trouble than they saw previously," warned Munyenyembe.

He said miners were aware that the mine houses were no longer paying windfall taxes and that meant that the mining firms were making a lot of profits therefore workers also deserved decent salaries.

Munyenyembe said at the time when the copper prices went down on the international market, mining houses rushed into retrenching workers, but wondered why the mining companies were taking time to increase salaries for miners this time around when the prices have improved.

Munyenyembe also warned government not to interfere in the matter as the miners push for increased salaries.

"We also want to tell the government not to interfere in our negotiations. Government should stay away," he said.

And Roan PF member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili urged investors especially the Chinese not to ignore the Zambia labour laws.

Kambwili's comment came in the wake of complaints from some Luanshya miners that China Luanshya Mine (CLM), the new owners of the once troubled Luanshya mine, has put some workers on three months probation despite having already served the company for almost six months when it took over the mine.

"Some workers have been put on probation after the served the company for six months. This is not in order, and it has created panic among the workers. I am therefore urging my Chinese friends to follow our labour laws," he said.

Kambwili said the government should also be monitoring the activities of the foreign investors especially the Chinese and not just be excited about their investments.
CLM commenced production last month.

Labels: MINING, MUZ, OSWELL MUNYENYEMBE, SALARIES

posted by MrK @ 4:13 AM