The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) says there is nothing to celebrate on this year’s Workers Day, saying mine workers are subjected to “Chibharo” a form of modern-day slavery.
The country is also reeling from the effects of climate change that is threatening lives and livelihoods.
In a statement celebrating the 2024 May Day this Wednesday, 01 May, ZDAMWU General Secretary Justice Chinhema said that the El Nino-induced drought which the country is facing has also affected the well-being of mine workers. He added:
<blockquote>
[The] 2024 Workers Day has come at a moment when mine workers are fighting tooth and nail to reclaim their rights, for a living wage and protection against excessive exploitation.
We are at a critical stage of history where we are not retreating in confronting the mistreatment of workers and believe May Day should not only be an occasion for gatherings, but it should be a day to salute the mine workers for their continued sustenance of the economy and expression of a deep appreciation to them and those who died or have been injured at the workplace in mines across the country.
</blockquote>
Chinhema pleaded with employers to prioritise the welfare of workers and for the government to ensure that mine workers are treated with dignity. He said:
<blockquote>
The Government and employers in the sector need to lend an ear to the concerns of the mine workers as much as possible to see that they are addressed not the current situation where workers have been turned into slaves by employers, Mine workers have nothing to celebrate on this May Day as they are subjected to poor working conditions and ‘slave wages’ which have thrown them into abject poverty despite being a vital cog in our economy.
Some big mines are even failing to pay salaries when they are due even when production is stable. The welfare of mineworkers in the country has remained pitiful. Sadly, this year’s Workers Day comes against the background of poor safety and health in our workplaces.
We have cases of workers working for long hours in unsafe environments, earn as you work system introduced by some employers, casualization of labour across all mines- workers signing short-term fixed contracts when work of permanent is available, rampant labour broking being introduced by corrupt, greedy managers taking over labour at companies they manage to pay slave wages while they earn huge.
This is a form of CHIBHARO which has been modernized. Poor provision of accommodation in some areas companies are building dormitories for workers.
Mine workers have nothing to show for themselves as their houses including rural homes because of the colonial set-up of compounding.
</blockquote>
Chinhema warned that workers have decided “enough is enough” and will organise and protect their rights against exploitation. He said:
<blockquote>
While we await our time to be part of the NEC Collective Bargaining where we shall immediately push for the amendment of all the various statutes currently being used by the NEC because they are all outdated, it is a travesty of labour justice that we are still using a CBA OF 1990.
Our call is and it remains a reform of the National Employment Council (NEC) so that it not only serves the mine workers but also serves its purpose.
As ZDAMWU we would like to reiterate that mine workers’ welfare is the reason for our existence. As a union, we shall be pushing for the implementation of ILO C176 in Zimbabwe and other existing safety and health laws.
We need to continue pushing for the criminalization of deliberate cause of accidents particularly where it is proved that the employer has failed to comply with the safety rules and regulations.
</blockquote>
ZDAMWU said it has put in place a Sexual Harassment policy to address gender-based violence and sexual harassment in mines and mining communities. Said Chinhema:
<blockquote>
We are cognizant of the challenges being faced by female mine workers in the country. As a union, we would like to reaffirm our commitment to protect the rights of female mine workers.
The union is committed to the emancipation of women both in the world of work and outside. We have recognised the challenges women face in general and have put measures and programs in place to address such anomalies and the emancipation of women workers in particular.
We have now put in place a Gender &amp; Sexual Harassment policy that seeks to address gender-based violence and sexual harassment in mines and mining communities.
Campaigns will be rolled at the mine level, and communities as well as pushing through the works council for workplace policy on Sexual Harassment, Gender Based Violence in the world of work.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

"Zimbabwe's Mine Workers Subjected To Modern Day Slavery"

Workers in Zimbabwe’s mining sector have received a wage hike fixed in United States dollars.
Following the adjustment, the lowest-paid worker in the sector is set to earn US$355 per month, while the highest-paid worker will now receive US$823.37 beginning January this year.
However, 35% of the wages will be paid in Zimbabwe dollars.
Further, the agreement says companies that do not generate foreign currency may be allowed to pay the full US dollar amount in local currency equivalent using the official Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) auction rate.
Before the adjustment, the lowest paid mining employee got $217 299.84 per month, while the most paid took home $503 994.78.
The new salary structure was agreed upon by the Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (AMWUZ) and the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe on 13 March 2023.
A circular sent to mine operators seen by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/business/article/200009052/mine-workers-wages-pegged-in-us">NewsDay</a> reads in part:
<blockquote>
Foreign currency-generating companies shall pay the new minimum wages in both US$ and ZWL (Zimbabwe dollar) portions as provided for above.
Non-foreign currency generating companies may be exempted from the requirement to pay in dual currency and shall pay the new monthly US dollar minimum wages as provided for above at the prevailing auction rate on the date of payment.
</blockquote>
Professional and General Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe president Abraham Kavalanjila said the new salary structure is “fair” but “it’s not enough due to the unpredictability of our economy.” He added:
<blockquote>
At least if it was US$500 then workers were going to be happy and would take care of their families’ daily needs.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Mine Workers' Wages Fixed In United States Dollars

The Solidarity Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (SMWUZ) has rejected the pay rates agreed upon at the National Employment Council (NEC) by the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe and the Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (AMWUZ).
A circular to mines dated November 22 by the National Employment Council of Zimbabwe says mining companies should pay the new minimum wages both in foreign currency and Zimbabwe dollars. It says:
<blockquote>
Companies shall pay the new minimum wages in both US$ and RTGS portions. The new minimum wages at the signing of this agreement shall be maintained in their fixed nominal values until the next wage review.
Non-foreign currency generating companies are excluded from the requirement to pay in dual currency and shall pay the new monthly Zimdollar minimum wages as provided for above.
</blockquote>
However, SMWUZ secretary-general Prince Mpala said the pay rates were improperly bargained as the negotiators did not consider the current prices of metals. Said Mpala:
<blockquote>
The way in which these rates were bargained is not in line with what the employees in the mining industry are supposed to get.
The bargaining was also supposed to consider the period when the metals were low and how much the mine workers were earning.
For example, in 2018 the minimum wage was US$318 and the gold price then was 1 gram to US$25.
Now the gold price is 1 gram to US$55. This means that the salaries should have doubled as well.
</blockquote>
AMWUZ secretary-general Gideon Chirwa defended the new pay rates saying salaries for the workers increased by 31 percent. Said Chirwa:
<blockquote>
We have actually increased the salaries for employees by 31 percent. We usually do not go for the agreement before consulting our members who are employees in the mining industry. Our negotiations are based on parameters such as inflation.
The lowest grade was earning $166 000 but we have negotiated with the employer to increase the wage to $217 299.84.
It is unfortunate these claims are not coming from the employees but from some rival unions.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200004121/mine-workers-shoot-down-nec-pay-rates">NewsDay</a>

Mine Workers Divided Over New Minimum Wage

The Zimbabwe Diamond Allied and Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has demanded wage reviews between US$400 and US$600 for mine workers and urged workers’ committees to bargain at the workers’ council level instead of waiting for the National Employment Council (NEC).
ZDAMWU secretary-general Justice Chinhema bemoaned the failure by employers to pay first-quarter salary arrears at a time when second-quarter wage negotiations should have been concluded. He said:
<blockquote>The reason for this travesty of justice on mine workers is because the first negotiations were concluded late in March when the payroll had already been processed.
It is disturbing to note that some mines are already applying for exemptions not to backdate the salaries.
… Our resolution as ZDAMWU is that as long as the mining sector is still paying these slave wages, workers will not rest.
As mine worker representatives we are not going to tire of pushing for a living wage in the range of US$400 to US$600.</blockquote>
Chinhema said as ZDAMWU, they were disappointed over employers’ failure to consider the COVID-19 allowances for mine workers when the sector was the only industry that remained on the ground and sustained other sectors during the lockdowns.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/04/mine-workers-demand-us600-living-wage/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NewsDay</a></h4>

Mine Workers Push For US$600 Living Wage

Workers in the Mining industry are pushing for a salary adjustment to mitigate the current economic hardships caused by runaway inflation.
In a letter written to National Employment Council for the Mining Industry dated 20 June 2019, Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZIDAMWU) secretary general Justice Chinhema said:
<blockquote>We request an urgent sitting of parties and the National Employment Council to consider salary adjustment to cushion workers.
We are concerned with the current state of the economy and hardships being faced by workers in the industry despite being the backbone of the country in terms of foreign currency generation.
The prevailing economic situation has seen inflation skyrocketing and prices of basic goods and services rising beyond the reach of many workers…leaving them on the verge of destitution, therefore the need for an urgent wage increase.</blockquote>
Workers in the mining sector negotiated for an 80% wage rise early this year, but it has since been eroded by inflation.
The Union is, therefore, demanding that workers should be paid their wages in USD or RTGS equivalent.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mine-workers-demand-wage-increase-as-prices-skyrocket/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Zimbabwe</a></h4>

Mine Workers Latest News

Latest Jobs