Friday, March 29, 2024

MUZ accuse Mopani of forcing workers to accept voluntary separation packages

Share

Mopani Mines
Mopani Mines

OVER 400 miners at Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) have opted for voluntary separation, Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) general-secretary Joseph Chewe has said.

Mr Chewe said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that over 400 miners at MCM opted for voluntary separation, which the Glencore-owned mining company offered as part of the debt reduction strategy.

Mr Chewe, however, said MUZ is disturbed by reports that MCM is allegedly putting pressure on miners to go on voluntary separation.

He said MUZ is now looking forward to President Lungu’s five-day working visit to Kitwe to help avert job losses in the mining sector.

Mr Chewe also said there is need for Government to increase its stake in mining companies because some investors are proving to be unreliable whenever there is a slump in copper prices on the international market.

He said it is disappointing that MCM has gone ahead to reduce labour by putting pressure on workers to go on voluntary separation.

MCM recently wrote to Government over its plans to lay off over 3,800 workers but the request was rejected by Government and union leaders.

“Mopani has gone ahead to lay off workers through voluntary separation. Over 400 workers, including those who were supposed to retire in December, have lost jobs through this mode of reducing labour by Mopani. This is another learning curve for Zambia.

“As a country, we need to increase our stake in the mines to avoid this problem of seeing these private mining companies retrenching workers whenever the sector faces challenges,” Mr Chewe said.

Efforts to get a comment from MCM public relations manager Cephas Sinyangwe proved futile.

10 COMMENTS

  1. Bottom Line. With the country is headed for collapse. Little Lungu things he there to stay. He should ask wamyayaya what happened. As long as the private sector collapses the country goes. Even if the mines where employing at present, 12 hours load shedding during peak time has killed the small industry business that employs over half the country. 7million plus are small industry. After the rains when the dam is full there will still be load shedding. What next. Watch this space. Those that can afford buy popcorn buy now. Popping time coming

  2. Acquiring 30% stakes in the mines was in the PF manifesto. After the PFools won, when Wylbur Simuusa as Mines Minister tried to reprise that pledge, Sata moved him to agriculture instead. Sata was bought pic by the mines, especially the Chinese. That’s why the stakes in the mines will never happen.

  3. Its a good deal for the ones retiring in December Mr. Unionist; they get a better package than they would ve gotten at retirement…

  4. Since they are more than 500, my former english teacher would tell me to report, “Just less than 600″…………

  5. I remember there was a time in 2008/2009 when MCM did the same for about 11,000 employees. Were you guys too young to remember or you could not yet read. these guys are getting paid; more than you will – but all you do is open that horse-pipe of yours…

  6. Why forcing miners to go on voluntary separations while alot of them got loans frm BANKS n who is going to settle those loans?First they better settle those loans on behalf of the mines.

  7. the government caused the problem mopani is going through. the vat refund which grz has chewed was enough to sustain the mining industry for atleast 10 months. now gov is bankrupt so the mine owners have no choice. they have to find other means of saving the costs. load shedding is back and again they have been asked to reduce power by 30%. this means shutting down some units and sending more pipo bk home. the turmoil in the mining sector has been projected to last 18 months. even then there is no guarantee that things will get better.

  8. But the problem with most of the people in the union is lack of understanding things. Voluntary means oneself giving him/her self. if they were forcing it wouldn’t have VSS. Those people are luck because their friends have just been put on recess. Let them just use the money wisely.

  9. First of all settle those loans for the Miners.Coz they re bin given peanuts as their benefits,Nw if the bank deducts da loan,hw much re they going to remain with?

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading