Message Mar 22 Fév 2011 19:12

Chambishi miners call off strike

By LYDIA CHIBESA

MINERS at Non-Ferrous Corporation Africa (NFCA) Chambishi mine have called off their strike.

National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) general secretary Goodwell Kaluba confirmed in an interview in Kitwe on February 21 that all the workers at the Chinese mining firm have resumed work.

“Although the miners have resumed work we are still monitoring the situation because anything can happen,” he said.

Mr Kaluba hoped that the miners will immediately resume full production.

He said it is a relief that the six-day strike at NFCA has come to an end after the miners resumed work on February 18, 2010.

Mr Kaluba regretted that the strike action disrupted production at NFCA and seriously frustrated the confidence of both foreign investors and the local people.

The workers went on strike due to speculation that they would be transferred from NFCA to work under a new company, JCHX Mining Construction Zambia Limited, amid claims of underpayment on accrued benefits.

NFCA management recently issued a notice to miners that workers who failed to report for work by February 17 should consider themselves summarily dismissed.

According to the notice made available by NFCA management to the Zambia Daily Mail, each employee will be given a comprehensive payslip showing how the benefits were calculated.

Management encouraged the workers to raise their queries individually with the Human Resources Department.

Chambishi mine was closed in 1987 for 13 years and was later rehabilitated by the Chinese investor who created 3,000 jobs.

The Chinese investor has pledged to invest US$660 million in the development of the West and Southeast ore bodies.