Chambishi CS places 1,500 workers in permanent employement

[LesCrozes]

Chambishi Copper Smelter places 1,500 workers in permanent employment
By Darious Kapembwa
Fri 02 May 2014, 17:50 CAT [144 Reads, 0 Comment(s)]


OVER 1,500 workers at Chambishi Copper Smelter have been placed on permanent jobs.

And CCS, the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers and the Mineworkers Union of Zambia have signed a 10 per cent salary increment after protracted negotiations.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at Lunte Lodge in Kitwe today, NUMAW president James Chansa hailed the unity exhibited by the two unions in the collective bargaining process resulting in management agreeing to end casualisation and to increase payments.

MUZ general secretary Joseph Chewe thanked top management at CCS, particularly the chief executive officer, for accepting to put all workers in permanent employment.

"Since Chambishi Copper Smelter opened, the workers were engaged on temporary or casual basis but as unions, we resolved to meet the CEO after protracted negotiations and he finally agreed," he said.

"The 10 per cent salary increase that we have signed although not very good is a good start because as MUZ we can see that things are beginning to improve at CCS and regarding the confirmation of workers on permanent basis effective April, is quite a mile stone. It will go a long way in creating sustainable and quality jobs. Salaries are still lower but we will still work hard to try and have the situation further addressed," said Chewe.