Open Society Foundation (OSF) has called on the Mine Workers Union of Zambia to take up the issue of the seventy seven workers reportedly fired at Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi, North Western Province.
OSF Executive Director, Sunday Chanda, has told QFM News that it is sad that 50 years after independence some mining companies prefer to import labour at the expense of local labour.
Mr. Chanda says the move by Kansanshi Mine to lay off Zambian workers in preference for foreign nationals, mostly Chinese and those from the Philippines should be condemned.
He says there is need for government to thoroughly investigate the reports and protect the Zambian workers.
Mr Chanda adds that government should also investigate the number of expatriates at FQM Smelter Project to assess whether the jobs they perform cannot be undertaken by Zambians.
He says Zambia cannot continue to be creating jobs for foreign nationals at the expense of the unemployed Zambians.
Mr. Chanda further states that Government’s policy should be to ensure that no single Zambian is laid off in preference of a foreigner.
sekouponokereal
August 1, 2014 at 7:54 am
I know ba sata is not going to like that layoff.get well soon sir.abo bonse abachita connive nama investors including lupiya b b,u wil never be happy ba ficolour.u hav auctioned our country to assholes for 30 pieces of silver.mwashitisha future yabana besu,mwanyaa u wil never shit properly
kakolwe
August 1, 2014 at 10:18 am
Iwe Sunday, didn’t you hear Hakainde oh! Sorry! Hikaumba say that UNIONISM is dead in Zm? Maybe, this excuse to seek audience with Sata, waumfwa?
josh
August 1, 2014 at 5:48 pm
The labour minister is just quiet there a lot of things happening at Kansanshi eg kabitaka housing employee are not getting the minimum wage becoz of the so called kabitaka me SATA let Mr KABWILI take over labour ministry people are surfaring at Kansanshi.
Mazabuka fan
August 1, 2014 at 10:37 pm
Mr chanda project of such nature,its normal to downsize the work force if the project is near to completion ,so I see no reason to cry foul.