229 MINERS LOSE JOBS AT CHAMBISHI METALS
Daily Star Reporter
1/21/2020 11:01:45 AM
Over 220 mine workers have been retrenched at Chambishi Metals after the company was placed on care and maintenance.
The Mineworkers Union of Zambia has announced that about 229 workers at Chambishi Metals will be retrenched this month-end following a decision by management to put the company on care and maintenance.
MUZ President Joseph Chewe said this is owing to the fact the the company has failed to secure feed stock.
Chewe announced that 29 workers will be retained during the care and maintenance period and has since called the pending closure as regrettable despite prolonged negotiations with the Union.
He was speaking at a media briefing in Kitwe on Monday.
Chewe said said it is regrettable that the company will be closed as the community depend on the mining firm for its livelihood.
He has called on government to consider revoking the mining license and find a capable investor to run the company profitably stating that putting the company on a two years care and maintenance period is too long.
"The union has negotiated for the workers to be paid their dues as it is under care and maintenance, the package range to K45,000 and K6,000 repatriation. However, this will have a negative impact on the community of Chambishi," Chewe said.
"There is no money to put in the company because the concentrates. In our view, ERG has failed to run the plant. This plant has been closed several times. We call upon government and the minister of mines that this company, they have failed, let them hand over the licence to government, and give it to others so that these jobs we continue losing and inflicting poverty to Chambishi community comes to an end."
He said the owners of Chambishi Metals, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), have failed to run company as it is not the first time they have put it on care and maintenance since taking over operations of the company.