Thursday, March 28, 2024

KCM places 148 employees on recess

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KCM

The commodities sector worldwide is experiencing difficulties associated with falling metal prices. The mining industry in Zambia is equally affected and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) is no exception. This poor economic environment has been compounded by the increasing cost of electricity arising from power generation difficulties in Zambia.

As a result of these factors, certain units of KCM’s operations are not viable. After a detailed assessment, a further 148 employees from the Nchanga underground mine will be placed on recess for three months. During the period of the recess the employees will continue to receive their wages.

“We have taken this decision with a heavy heart. The business is currently experiencing challenges which we are working hard to resolve and to minimize negative impacts on employees and the business,” Vice President Human Capital Management Jacob Njovu said. “We remain wholly committed to the long-term success of the business.”

KCM has engaged with the government and the unions before making this decision and has received the requisite approvals.

Issued by Shapi Shachinda

Manager Public Relations & Communications

11 COMMENTS

  1. The beginning of the end. Analysts estimate that the slowing down of the Chinese economy will persist for at least five years. lets diversify our economy a bit. Why can’t we become major suppliers of Copper cables for a start. Think Zambians!

    • With you @Eshu! I still wonder why we have failed to build on what KK started with ZAMEFA! Afew months ago Yaluma was busy threatening ZAMEFA (General Cables) that they have been using the qouta that government negotiated for them to get copper cathodes from mines at the “mine gate price” to expand production at their Durban factory instead growing manufacturing at the Luanshya factory. He promised them sanctions and have not heard anything after that! Why not mine less copper,use most of it to produce as many components as we can e.g. cables of all sizes,motors,transformers,tubings and pipings etc. Our central location can help us to supply in the tri-partite market. But all we do is focus on finding more and more miners instead of hunting for manufacturers in production of both…

  2. “During the period of the recess the employees will continue to receive their wages”. Is this half or full wage? This doesn’t add up, if they will continue getting their wages, why not deploy them to other sections instead of giving them “free” money or at least let them work on reduced hours. You can sense that KCM is not being open enough. I will wait to hear from the affected employees

  3. @ESHU-We are still waiting for national prayers on 18th Oct so that God can show us how to diversify the economy!!!

    • We will vote for Lungu because he is a poor man and he understands peoples problems. He doesn’t hide his drinking and he is a very humble man. Besides the late president left the man in charge which is an indicator of the confidence MCS had in him. He has also promised to continue where MCS left.

      Where in the world does humbleness or poverty qualify one to the presidency? What legacy did MCS leave for people to want lungu to continue? Should our individual judgement be based on what the unschooled MCS wanted?
      Shame on you Zambians

  4. Muzakaula ba shimaini.muzachiona. Eat the humble pie that you elected on 20/09/2011 and replaced him with even the more useless one 20/01/2015. Osa lila mukalibe kufika.

    • @Lucy open your eyes and don’t say things from without. its shameful that Zambia Produces copper yet it does not determine the price of copper.

  5. All the Leeway (sp), given to exempt Mining industry on new Tax measures, has still ended in redundancies. I still think one big mistake was not to keep the tax changes proposed. We are just facilitating these
    mines to take away a bigger slice of cake rather than set aside copper for future generations. Surely 3% contribution to GDP is not worth it if we end up with even higher unemployment.

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