It is reported that Konkola Copper Mines of Zambia’s largest copper producer by output, justified the employment of more than 50 expatriates at the company because of the ongoing expansion programs that require skilled labor.

Recently Mr Oswell Munyenyembe general secretary of mine workers union of Zambia said that the labor movement was not happy with the continued flouting of the development agreements by major mining companies, Konkola inclusive and that more expatriates were employed at the expense of skilled locals.

Ms Joy Sata company spokeswoman defended the action of the management at the company arguing that the increased employment of expatriates at the company was necessitated by the ongoing expansion programs at the mine that include building the Konkola Deep Mine Project. Recently the union contended that the mine was abrogating labor laws by employing expatriates, amounting to more than 50. However Ms Sata contended that Zambia did not have enough skilled manpower to meet the growing specialized labor demands.

She said that KCM has a deliberate policy to train Zambians in various artisan and professional fields to fill positions where there is a critical shortage of skilled local manpower. Hiring of skilled foreign employees has mainly been necessitated by the ongoing projects that KCM is undertaking. Currently KCM was training 166 artisans at Kitwe Trades Training School that has 60 KCM employees who were sponsored at the school had just graduated while 46 others are being trained at Sandvik training centers in South Africa and Kitwe for various artisan skills.

She added that KCM has also sent Zambian school leavers in universities in India and Namibia where they are trained in various mining disciplines and medicine through a s scholarship program which is operated by KCM to have more trained in mining professions. The decision is in addition to several others that KCM continues to sponsor for training at the University of Zambia and the Copperbelt University.

Ms Sata reported that more Zambians are being trained by KCM in the United Kingdom and Kenya while the company also has an exchange program with other Vedanta units in various parts of the world where Zambians are sent for in house training to boost the skills levels in the mine.

She said that it was management’s commitment to look into the union’s concerns and would continue to dialogue with the union to address some labour issues of common interest.

(Filed by Mr Kapembwa Sinkamba SteelGuru Correspondent Zambia)