Zambia Vedanta unit miners call-off planned protest
Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:29pm GMT
Print | Single Page[-] Text [+] * KCM suspends outsourcing programme
* Zambians to have chance to hold key posts
LUSAKA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Miners at Zambia's Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), owned by London-listed Vedanta Resources Plc (VED.L: Quote) called off a planned demonstration over the outsourcing of labour by the company which agreed to halt the programme.
Workers at KCM, the second largest mining company by output in Zambia, Africa's largest copper producer, had threatened to demonstrate against the firm's employment of foreigners and outsourcing of contracts to outside firms.
"The demonstration will not take place because KCM (has) agreed to stop the outsourcing programme," said Rayford Mbulu, the president of the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ).
KCM spokesman Rahul Kharkar said following a meeting on Tuesday involving representatives from the government, mine unions and KCM, the company had agreed to halt its outsourcing programme for the sake of industrial harmony.
Kharkar said KCM would also re-advertise the post of vice-president human resources locally in an effort to identify a suitably qualified Zambian to take up the post.
"Both decisions were taken in the interest of industrial harmony and to allow more time for KCM to foster an understanding of the benefits of its outsourcing plans amongst employees as well as the government.
KCM previously defended the outsourcing programme saying it had enabled it to extend the life of Nchanga mine, one of its biggest units, by over 10 years because of improved efficiency.
(Reporting By Chris Mfula; Editing by Veronica Brown)