By Donald Nyarota.
MUTARE, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – Consolidation of diamond mining will only benefit government at the expense of workers whose needs are secondary, a workers union has said.
Zimbabwe Diamond Miners Workers Union secretary general Justice Chinhema said government failed to consult hence the plight of workers has not been considered.
Chinhema said the order for mining companies to cease operations affected over 2000 diamond workers, while over 8000 jobs have been lost over the years.
“The government through the Minister of Mines did not fully consult all stakeholders especially the workers. Once again it should be known that from 2009 that almost 10000 jobs were created from diamond in Chiadzwa and Chimanimani and almost 8000 have lost their jobs to termination and nature of contract.
“Workers support the demand by the government for companies mainly diamonds to amalgamate. This is a good policy but we are saying all outstanding grievances must be resolved first before the amalgamation. Company by company must pay its employees’ outstanding salaries and resolve all outstanding disputes within a short space of time.
“No employee currently employed must lose their job due to the amalgamation and if by any means it happens, be paid in full. Workers need to be given seats in the board for transparency, not the current situation where they are not even consulted,” said Chinhema.
Meanwhile Mines and Mineral Development minister, Walter Chidhakwa made assurances that the bulk of workers from disbanded mining companies will be integrated into the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Mining Company.
Chidhakwa said while government might not re absorb all affected workers it will ensure that workers are treated fairly.
“I want to assure the workers of the companies that it is not our intention to disposes them of their employment opportunities, it’s not our intention to replace them with new workers.
“ZCDC as it negotiates its way that the workers will be rehired on conditions that are equal to or even better than from the individual companies,” he said.
Minister Chidhakwa also made assurances that the consolidated mining company will operate in a transparent and accountable manner to curb pilferage of resources from the gems.
Under the different mining companies workers were subjected to differential treatment, human rights abuses, job insecurity among a host of other psychological ill treatment at the hands of foreign nationals, claims ZDMWU.
ZDMWU is calling for “The new Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company to engage all the employees with no conditions set and preferences on the advertised jobs to given to those terminated before the closure and also to consider local youth with clean records.
“Government should recognize workers as stakeholders and must always be consulted on issues that affect their employment.”
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