MINES Union ‘Protects’ And REFUSES To Blame Chinese Firms And Says ‘They Are Not that Bad’

THE Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has refused to entirely blame the Chinese-owned mining companies over the ‘flouting’ of the country’s labour laws saying Chinese investors have certain positives that have benefited Zambians in many ways.
Newly-elected MUZ president Oswell Munyenyembe said in an interview yesterday in Kitwe his union cannot entirely blame the Chinese companies because other mining houses are equally culprits.
“We cannot wholesomely condemn the Chinese-owned mining houses. Remember when we had the global crisis, no worker was retrenched at any Chinese mine. Yes, they have their own problems like mistreating workers and not following labour laws, but other mining houses are also culprits in this area. It is not only the Chinese mining companies,” he said.
Mr Munyenyembe, however, urged the Chinese companies to ensure that they follow the country’s labour laws and desist from harassing their workers.
He was reacting to the report released by the United Kingdon-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) in which the watchdog has accused Chinese minies of abusing workers and blamed Government for being indifferent to the plight of the miners.
Mr Munyenyembe said investors must work hand in hand with their workers to promote industrial harmony.
“We want the Chinese and other investors in the mining industry to respect the labour laws, to respect rights of their workers. They must pay the workers well and they must ensure that the safety of the people is a priority,” Mr Munyenyembe said.
And Government says not only Chinese Mining companies have been flouting labour laws but all employers should try and ensure their workers are properly looked after.
Deputy Minister of Labour Rayford Mbulu says Government has been prompted to quickly and effectively revise labour laws and regulations because of revelations that have shown how workers in the country continue to be exploited because of the harsh conditions of service they operate under.
Mr Mbulu said Government intends to put in place laws which will ensure companies that flout them are slapped with stiff sanctions to deter others.
He said in an interview in Lusaka that the country’s current labour laws are intolerable because they do not adequately address issues that are on the ground.
“The labour laws in the country are intolerable, and we need to put in place stiffer laws and penalties that will make people responsible when they abrogate them,” he said.
He said issues concerning safety of workers should be the priority of any company because this reduces accidents making the company more productive.

Posted by Editor on November 5, 2011. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

11 Responses to MINES Union ‘Protects’ And REFUSES To Blame Chinese Firms And Says ‘They Are Not that Bad’

Military minds of a drug lord

November 5, 2011 at 9:47 am

Iwe Munyenyembe, after they had lunch at state house now they are not bad?? They were stated as the least paying mining company in Zambia that was the cry. People want money in their pockets you are talking about the past?? Lets talk about the future of course they do invest by they need to revise their salary scheme, its why we are crying to government to revise the labour laws ASAP (minimum wage)
Framuka

November 5, 2011 at 10:30 am

Regardless of who owns which company, labour laws must be adhered to by every employer. Therefore every union in liaise with the government must come out with the same tone and rhythm of the language that affirms protection of sound labour laws.
ZED lols

November 5, 2011 at 10:41 am

A wrong doesn’t justify a wrong, mambala know that. Am out, mstchew
Wanu Ngwee

November 5, 2011 at 11:01 am

Labour Laws and the Plight of workers have remained the same after 20th September 2011, and so should the voice of Trade Unionists. In South Africa, outspoken Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi stood by Jacob Zuma during his rape and corruption trials, and this support contributed hugely to Zuma’s ascendance to presidency. And Vavi was in turn lured into Zuma’s cabinet but he rejected the offer – opting to keep his COSATU job and has emerged to be even more critical of Zuma’s government because he understand the cause of any Unionist to be that of fighting for the plight of the people they represent! So, Munyenyembe must not start changing his tune after the President’s luncheon with Chinese business people. I thought the last election was it itself a revolution for normalisation of labour practices and also the reduction of unemployment? OR have things changed? What did you eat at the luncheon Mr. Munyenyembe?
PIKE

November 5, 2011 at 11:43 am

honorable mbulu please be quick in you response to minimum wage:
Tonga Bull

November 5, 2011 at 11:54 am

@ Wanu Ngwee: You are 100% right… even our own Fackson Shamemnda did that under Chiluba govt. He was offered a position but he refused it completely. When Hikaumba become president of ZCTU he took late Levy Mwanawasa to task but easly corrupted and even now the guy has no balls to talk about labour laws in the country. Munyenyembe is right when he says that though the Chinese are illtreating the Zambia workers, we should not forget about other mine owners who are doing the same as well. HE MCS has said that he will make use of themm to build Zambia. Remember that we have projects of connecting provinces coming via road network and the China man will be used to develop this country.Lets give the union and govt time until the end of this year then we must start pushing them hard.
DK

November 5, 2011 at 1:03 pm

LABOUR LEADERS ARE NO LONGER REPRESENTATIVES OF WORKERS BECOZ THEY LOVE MONEY SO MUCH ON THE EXPENSE OF THE SUFFERING WORKERS! HIKAUMBA AND MWABA WERE BOUGHT BY MMD!
Nakabemba

November 5, 2011 at 2:31 pm

Kwena ebuwelewele ubo ku Zed. Am very very worried about this attitude. I think the fight against corruption should be started. How does a president of a union talk like that? That is clear knowledge that something is very wrong. Twapapata Imwe Ba munye2 stop that nonsense. Tata Lesa katwishi nga ninshi Zambia twachita pa kukwata ifiwelewele mu leadership. I cry for beloved Zambia.
snr chief

November 5, 2011 at 3:11 pm

bane 2b realistic da chinese ar very arogant.surely hw can da chinese b da lowest paid mine in da world nd one of da lagest copper producing company n da world
K.k

November 6, 2011 at 11:02 am

I don’t know why zambian u like this,when you just see a white person you smile even if he/she is wrong.
lazaro bulanda

November 6, 2011 at 10:32 pm

Imwe ba munyenyembe lekeni ukufulungana, namulyamo? we brought this ledership into power with hope that you are going to redeem us from slavery but it looks like you are falling prey as well to these idols. tukaminukula like we did to MMD….