GOVERNMENT says it will not entertain investors who will use the global economic crisis as an excuse for denying workers salary increments next year.
Speaking in Lufwanyama yesterday when he addressed Kagem Mine Limited management and employees, Labour and Social Services Minister Austin Liato said the mining sector has recovered from the effects of the global economic crisis and expects them to award salary increments to workers.
Mr Liato said government greatly cares for its citizens employed by foreign investors and would not allow investors to exploit them.
The Minister also urged workers not to engage in riots when airing their labour grievances to management but to instead use dialogue.
He further urged the workers to join the existing unions in the mining sector so that their labour concerns could be easily addressed.
Mr. Liato assured the workers that government was committed to ensuring that they were well treated by their employers and that they are given better conditions of service.
And speaking earlier, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Maxwell Mwale expressed happiness at the growth of production operations at Kagen Emerald Mining Limited in which government owns 25 percent shares.
Mr. Mwale said the company has grown from small scale production to large scale production.
He observed that the company would contribute significantly to the economic growth of the country. He urged the workers to support management so that the company becomes even more profitable and continues operations for them to be assured of job security and be able to support their families.
Mr. Mwale added that if the company is supported, it would grow and government will be able to raise revenue for developmental projects such as construction of schools, clinics and rehabilitation of roads.
And later after touring Grizzly Mining Limited, another gemstone mine, Mr Mwale commended the company for its corporate social responsibility programmes in Lufwanyama district.
He urged Grizzly management to continue supplementing government efforts in improving the livelihoods of the people.
The company has assisted the community by among other things, the construction of a school, clinic, rehabilitation of roads and construction of a bridge.
And speaking earlier Grizzly Mining Limited General Manager Carolyne Maphenduka said the company has this year invested over US$900 million in the implementation of strategies aimed at increasing production and improving the welfare of workers.
Ms. Maphenduka cited programmes such as purchasing of modern mining and mineral processing equipment, construction of dormitories for workers, construction of a modern workshop and fuel storage facilities among several others.
She urged others investors to emulate its corporate social responsibility programmes as government alone can not manage to address the various needs of its citizens.
She also appealed to government to continue supporting the gemstone sector so that it can contribute significantly to the economic growth of the country.
ZANIS
Ba Liato kaili re-introdunce ka Windfall tax naimwe! Zambia yu fwe ko bwino nayena.Umuntengo wa kopala naukwela sana. You go ku Lufwanyama to warn kantemba mine when KCM is awarding only 3% against chi 25% ama miners want! Bakaamba mwaliba funny! MUZ has declared a dispute. Kagem has always, since time in memorial, exploited its workers. Ninshi Yashani iyo?
Miners in Zambia are taken for granted……what is ka 3% KCM has awarded the miners? Do they get in dollars or Euros for them to be awarded 3%????
Iam disappointed with Liato.First of all this man is very corrupt.How does he allow KCM to engage expatriates in fields that can be perfomed by Zambians.He has no stand on this as he is fed by KCM.Today KCM is engaging Indians in human resources,engineering,metallurgy,commercial,and public relations.This is a country with qualified personnel who today are roaming the streets unemployed because the jobs are reserved for indians who are not even qualified.when did these ministers have a meeting with local zambian kcm employees to hear their cries,all they do is listen to management who feeds them with lies.zambians are suffering,low pay,lack of direction from incompetent indian management who manage by useless meetings,no real focus on production related issues.Compare with Mutati at Mopani.
Zambians have no support from their govt.This Liato cannot go to Lufwanyama and make those statements.He entertains indian management at his offices together with his friend Mangani,another inept and corrupt home affairs minister dishing out work permits to indians without looking at what jobs can be done by Zambians.Zambians are like aliens in their own country,sitting on the rails watching indians go for work,no wonder kcm cannot and will not improve on production.what a shame 45 years after independence,zambians are worse off,educated and no jobs.rupiah cant bother ,his sons have contracts with kcm,his ministers cant bother,they have contracts with kcm.no minister has ever come to kcm to inspect these jobs done by ill qualified indians.kick out this uncaring govt come 2011 .
3% salary increment is nonsense.how much does an indian earn back home. these chaps earn very little money in India,they come here and are paid thousands of dollars they never dreamed of in their lives and become small gods whilst zambians struggle and struggle.This time round zambians will teach these indians a lesson they will never forget.And this Liato should resign for failing to address the problems of workers in kcm.and that Mangani should also resign for dishing out work permits after being bribed.We know what Liato and Mangani are doing .Not fit to be Ministers,shameful,greedy,and corrupt.You feel no sympathy for the poor Zambian toling and suffering.God will punish your selfishness.
please bring back Kalombo Mwansa in the Ministry of Home Affairs,that Mangani is being fed by Indians and Chinese.Please kick out Liato and I dont know who will be suitable at Labour,with the demise of the dynamic Kafumokache(MHSRIP)..Who holds these ministers accountable,nobody because Nyamasoya is a big beneficiary of KCM from the time he was Vice President.He has heavily compromised his position.Who will save KCM HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES .These employees are well qualified and very well experienced,if properly led and managed by competent qualified top management they will deliver.You bring traders to come and run a mine and all they do is confuse zambians.Local kcm employees are now confused and just watch the situation.they have nowhere to complain because govt is corrupt
Can you go to India and work whilst an Indian is available and equally qualified.What is Immigration doing,giving permits to these indians .For once Rupiah Banda be seen to work
LIATO,STOP TELLING LIES.YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT MINISTERS FEEDING FROM KCM.KK SHOULD HAVE HEKKLD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO RELIEVE YOU FROM YOUR DUTIES ,YOU WOULD NOT HAVE SEEN A SECOND DAY IN YOUR OFFICE.YOU CAN ONLY SURVIVE UNDER RUPIAH
What is this Liato talking about.The indians are even laughing at such a statement. You go to the bush to make such a statement.Why not tell the indians at kcm.No,No,you would not because you would lose income .The Indians have got you,and you are watching their back.We will teach a lesson to your indians that they will never forget ,and as for you ,its count down to 2011.Shameful Liato!
AND YOU INDIANS AT KCM,YOU HONESTLY EXPECT YOUR LOCAL EMPLOYEES TO ACCEPT 3% WHILST YOU PAY YOURSELVES HEFTY DOLLARS.YOU MUST BE JOKING.YOU THINK THE WAY YOU HAVE CORRUPTED THE GOVT IS THE WAY YOU ARE GOING TO CORRUPT THE EMPLOYEES.THINK AGAIN!
come 2011 we shall vote in people who have the interest of Zambians at heart.We have nothing against foreigners,but those who come to exploit us like these indians at kcm ,we will kick out.EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.
are you sure Ba Minister
Ha! ha! ha!- never heard such crap
i wonder who is listening and believing -you are lucky zambians are docile-they have resigned themselves to fate.Elsewhere bwana minister you would not walk anywhere,you would be a taught a lesson for lying.
I feel sorry for KCM employees.Who is going to help them.Kanshi Aba ba mwenye,ninshi!
AS MINISTER OF LABOUR IN 2011, NO JOB WILL GO TO AN EXPATRIATE UNLESS THERE IS NO ZAMBIAN BOTH HERE AND ABROAD.
ZAMBIANS WILL OWN 40% SHARES IN MINING COMPANIES.
ZAMBIANS WILL PAID SAME AS EXPATRIATES FOR SIMILAR JOBS.FOR THOSE WITH EXTRA SPECIALIST SKILLS AN ALLOWANCE WILL BE PAID.
CEO OF MINING COMPANY WILL BE SUITABLY QUALIFIED WITH RELEVANT EXPERIENCE,PREFERENCE WILL GO TO ZAMBIANS.
COMMITTEE OF ZAMBIAN EXPERTS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ISSUING PERMITS. AND LIST OF JOBS WHERE NO SKILLS ARE AVAILABLE WILL BE ADVERTISED IN THE PRESS.
no 16,i hope you are serious-you have my fullest support
no 16,please raise the cost of work permit to K 10,000,000 and a renewal, charge K20,000,000
The money raised will enable inspectors to conduct inspections at random
i could also add that any violations attract a fine of $100,000 or 6 months imprisonment
This is modern day slavery – only worse because whereas in the past the slave master travelled wide to find the slaves and carry them, this time the slave goes crying out to the master to come and “invest” or reap from his garden. Now the slave expects the slavemaster to comply with his conditions? Who holds the handle and who holds the blade?