Konkola Copper Mine a unit of Vedanta Resources Plc in Zambia has dismissed 34 workers at Nchanga division for riotous behavior over wages last year.
Mr Raul Karkar head of corporate affairs of Konkola Copper Mine said that the 34 miners out of 47 employees charged for riotous behaviour that resulted in damage to property and affected production at some of the key production plant areas have been relieved of their duty following their participation in the industrial unrest.
The 34 employees were dismissed after their cases reached the last stage of their hearing process and were found guilty of the charges slapped on them. The action follows disciplinary hearing process instituted by management for the charged employees.
Mr Karkar said that the remaining 13 employees were reinstated by management and have since resumed work. There was overwhelming evidence indicating that the dismissed employees were involved in the riotous behavior which left a trial of destruction to company property forcing management to dismiss them.
Mine workers unions said that they have engaged management with a view to have the dismissed employees pardoned and reinstated.
Mr Mundia Sikufele president of National Union of Miners and Allied Workers said that the plight of the dismissed workers is part of the agenda for the ongoing negotiations for improved salaries conditions of service for the workers and that their fate will be will be determined when negotiations are concluded.
Mr Sikufele said that the fate of the dismissed miners will be determined when we conclude the collective bargaining process as it is part of the agenda with management.
In November last year, more than 1,500 employees at Nchanga division’s Konkola Copper Mine, Zambia’s leading copper producer, rioted and damaged property worth millions of kwacha demanding for improved salaries and other conditions of service. The protests were sparked by prolonged discussions over workers’ demands for improved salaries and other conditions of service.
(Filed by Mr Kapembwa Sinkamba SteelGuru Correspondent Zambia)
