Thursday, March 28, 2024

Government will not accept laying off of workers at Kalumbila Copper mine without justification-Simukoko

Share

Labour Minister Hon. Joyce Nonde Simukoko
Labour Minister Hon. Joyce Nonde Simukoko

Kalumbila Copper Mines has notified Government on its decision to lay off over One thousand miners due to the proposed new mining tax regime.

But government says it will not accept laying off of workers at Kalumbila Copper mine without justification.

Minister of Labour Joyce Simukoko says the Ministry is in possession of a letter notifying government about the development.

She however said the notification did not highlight why the mine is incapacitated but just cited that it is because of the proposed mine taxes.

Mrs. Simukoko said it is sad that whenever mine owners face challenges, they threaten government with redundancy, which should not be the case and that government will not take the issue lightly.

And in a separate interview with ZNBC News, Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe said the current tax regime is the best and supports the plight of workers and government wants best for its people.

Mr. Mwakalombe said if reports that the Mines held a meeting with some unions today in Kitwe is unfortunate.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Simukoko has said the launch of the Vision Zero Campaign, which is intended to bring about zero accidents and health hazards in the work place, reflects the aspirations of the Patriotic Front government for the country’s workforce.

She says government recognises the need to deliver a vibrant social security system that protects citizens against poverty and destitution arising from employment related accidents and health hazards.

The minister said this in Livingstone during the launch of the Vision Zero campaign at the Avani Hotel in a speech delivered by Ministry of Labour Permanent Secretary Barnaby Mulenga.

And, Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board, Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Nkumbula has noted that the Vision Zero has been aligned to the national Vision 2030.

Ms. Nkumbula says the compensation board desires to see fewer accidents in the workplace because this would entail less claims and more investment in the economy.

43 COMMENTS

    • Does the government have a stake in the business? It might be a business decision. Call it arm twisting due to taxes if you want!

    • Anati gong’a uja munyamata timati double h. When a deal is struck, smart people use loopholes in the deal to exploit the contract. When you politians take to the dealing table you are blinded by brown envelops to a point where you’re lip tied to think or talk about what happens tomorrow on account of what is prevailing at the moment. Your contracts are usually not water tight for the benefit of the nation but yourselves. ZRA is not consulted. Economists are not consulted. Engineers are not consulted. Political interests make the deal. What do you expect. Expect bruises if no one is going to back down. #Theymustpayfairtaxes.

    • Increase ZCCM-IH stake in each mine or simply take over some mines now. Have more teeth in the game and these guys will stop misbehaving.

      For those who want to lay off workers, increase royalties by another 0.5% as a penalty and see if any one of them will even do it.

      Issue an Executive Order to that effect that any mining company that lays off more than members of their workforce without justification will immediately attract a marginal 0.5% increase on the current royalties rate.

      These companies pay taxes every where else and Zambia should not be an exception.

      Let’s roll …

    • Meant to say any mining company that lays off more than 5 members of their workforce shall attract a marginal 0.5% increase in royalties rate …

    • The mind games have started …very soon the govt will send Finance Minister to them to negotiate which will mean no tax to pay. Simukoko is too dull for such issues

    • HH is too dull to be a President. Let’s get in a high percentage as shareholders and this fuulishnes from HH and HATRIBES, sorry INFESTERS will disappear. The good news? UNELECTABLE!

  1. Just take over the mine instead of talking. I love the Philipino president. He puts his head on the chopping block and comes out even stronger.

    • Government can run the mines anymore.
      Minister, your people at Zampost have not been paid for reportedly 5 month. Your muteness is to loud to my eyes.
      Double standards.
      Budda we got to somehow tax the chimbwis. I have no mercy for them.

  2. What if they give a good justification? The problem with our govt they think investors come here to do charity to zambians they are here for profit…will comment later fir now we are just watching

    • No sikapane ya amayi ake. Budda everytime you wanna tax them appropriately, they cry and yell. When copper prices are low, they equally cry and yell; and threaten to lay off workers. When prices are high, they smile and stay mute. Of course they are businessmen not a charity. Budda, who was at the center of the deal? Which nigga got a cut for the raw deal? Hypocrite.

    • Your assets are being ripped open and milked like no man’s business. Yet you yap with impunity politicking like 1d1ots. Didn’t your mama tell you who sold them mines.
      This country also, is full of some dullo creatures.

    • just go and eat social cash money you have duped the poor all of a sudden you care about people, you kaponya`s only care about yourselves and the envelopes in front of you…. dull cadre, probably grade 2

  3. I have no Vision = Vision Zero? Emasetingi aya! Respect bakateka nangu tabakwete vision!
    As for mine workers, brace for the worst! This is the normal cycle of mining. When mining costs are high, no need for excess baggage. We can idle machines but what are we going to pay you if the GRZ collects everything in rentals (Royalties) which we have to pay whether we are profitable or not? Mines have already done their budget forecasts and have already assessed the impact the new taxes will have on operations! GRZ has not done its homework and lacks foresight (Vision)!

  4. Ifyabupuba! Why is it that most African governments cannot extricate politicking from people’s lives? Why is this? See when Theresa May got out to announce her party matters the government seal was actually stripped from the lectern. That is symbolic but very powerful – an indication that politics and delivery of government services MUST NOT BE CONFLATED. You invited your investors and now you want to force them to do your social welfare responsibility for you on the cheap?!? Mwe fipuba mwe! Awe mwe!!!

  5. What justification does the minister want. Easy maths. The company has 100 worker, each worker is paid $1, the company pay normal tax of $25. Now the government want to increase tax to $48. The easiest thing the company can do is to lay off 23 workers to balance the budget

    • Spot on!
      I wonder if our Black Munthu leaders understand simple business mathematics!
      PF should be careful not to get advice on Economics from some job-seeking Russian-trained Economists or they will mess everything up!
      Theories are easy within the walls of the classroom. We are talking about Applied Economics here where Theories become useless and not practical!

    • Labour is very cheap – but a very good too to use to intimidate stakeholders. This is what the mine owners are trying to use. They are already stealing a lot from the country through under-reporting and very expensive top personnel. They should actually cut down on expatriate labour instead.

  6. And you still want to let go of other companies, zaffico and zesco…..really you are dimwits when you even know you will have no control over the business decisions they make…..and what if they give you a valid reason of which they do have coz them it’s business and their shareholders want profits not operating on charity…..what are you going to say to your already impoverished people…….mulimbulwa mano…..you can’t have control by just adjusting taxes…..and keeping your fingers crossed ati they will honor…..rubbish……musensela lilya bwacha ba punka imwe…..

  7. If I mechanise my company and lay off Labour force who are you to say no.

    I buy a lawn mower and prune 20 slasher. What would upendi cadres say.

    Answer dont just thumb down. That’s why we say there is no opposition in Zambia.

    The chaps have no answers

  8. Joyce Nonde was a terrible unionist and is a terrible Minister of Labour, other than this she sucks as a negotiator. The only reason she got famous was because she’s a woman nothing more.
    It’s a no brainer that if those cost of production or doing business goes up, you scale up by reducing workforce. Just recently a local edible oils producer company laid off most of its workforce due to imports (illegal or not), and the govt through Commerce ministry failed to do anything so that a viable company could be saved.
    Minimum wage and bad business environment is bad for everyone.

  9. People seem to have forgotten what being patriotic means. Let’s bite the bullet and Tax the Mines appropriately. As it is they pay less than an individual does in Tax and still enjoy subsidies in fuel and electricity that even citizens don’t have anymore. In a bid to raise more money from them from fuel and electricity govt has had to unilaterally increase it across the board. Unfortunately even citizens have been affected by it. What we need is to support our Government as one by forgetting our differences to make sure that they are able to take bold decisions in the interest of the Country. It seems for some bloggers that the Government can’t do anything right and all they do is criticize. Or that they will only support Government if it is made up of their own party. Americans fight…

  10. …bitterly as Republicans and Democrats but are a united front on National issues concerning their welfare and security. After elections let’s forget our differences and support our Government in their mandate to Govern. Even if you may not like them. Let’s follow what God has instructed us through his Word. Read Romans 13 for yourself.

  11. Taxes are every where in this world that is where gets the finances , some of these investors are crooks especially those who come to africa they use manipulative and blackmail tendencies .
    They rob nations at will one of them was bragging how he got zambian mines at no cost but made billions out of it , really that is not a new song these guys are singing better the minister have a meaningful and wise and intelligent discussion.
    But she must refer to the past tricks of these pests who capitalise on the african ignorance to steal resources .
    One of these people even said his coy pays taxes to the government because of the salaries of his employees total madness.

  12. It’s during times like this, times when negotiations with investors are meant to sacrifice the lives of the already down trodden that one misses the gallant man, the patriot, a man in whose eyes no minister or investor dared to look directly – the late Cobra. Who will stand against the oppressor for the masses now?

  13. Honorable Finance Minister Mrs Mwanakatwe, please also revoke subsidies on electricity and fuel to the Mines, in addition to sticking to your proposed Taxes on them. They are huge profit making entities, why on earth should a poor nation still subsidize a mega profit making multinational firm? There are enough people lining up to take over the mines if they want to leave, Copper is a depreciating resource, let’s maximize income from it while we can like Tanzania has done. let’s not be held to ransom by their threats of worker retrenchment. We need the money to pay down debts and repair our international reputation financially. We can also use this inflow to justify a cut in PAYE to 30% as relief to burdened workers.

  14. Only an imbec.ile would support the threats by Kalumbila mine. These guys were on tax holiday and on top of this they abused the VAT system. This is not about PF but about the whole Zambia. Would’vyou want to inherit a system that will make your governing difficult or otherwise?

  15. The justification has been stated in the notification that it is the proposed new mining tax regime. The tax will reduce the profits of the mine get it ignorant thick heads PF Fools.

  16. The justification has been stated in the notification that it is the proposed new mining tax regime. The tax will reduce the profits of the mine get it ignorant thick heads P=F -F=o=o=l=s.

  17. We have such a toothless government such that foriegners dictate how things have to be done. A lot of employees complain about this FQM as well, but all their complaints fall on deaf ears. We need to overhaul this PF regime and bring in a real patriotic government not one with cheap talk.

  18. The more noise this simukoko will make the bigger the brown envelope she shall receive. Now there will be competition between mines minister musukwa and herself trying to outdo each other for the larger share.

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