Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matambo has given management at China Copper Mine in Chingola a 30-day ultimatum to improve working conditions for workers or face recommendation for closure.
Matambo who visited the Chinese owned mine on a fact finding mission following a protest by workers was left disappointed with the state of ablutions and canteen used by the staff.
He said it was inhumane for management to allow workers use ablutions that are in a bad state while they also continue to be paid lower salaries despite working long hours.
Matambo was displeased after some workers revealed to him that they are forced to work an extra four hours of overtime so their salaries can be around One Thousand three hundred Kwacha.
He said having workers work from 07:30 to 19:30 every day in a bad working environment is not only inhuman but also against the country’s labour laws.
Matambo observed that while Government appreciates the Investment, there is need for those investing in the country to respect labour laws.
And Matambo told management to reinstate 28 workers who were recently fired for taking part in the protest.
He said while the strike was illegal, their concerns on the state of the toilets were justified adding that no worker would be motivated by dilapidated sanitary facilities.
Meanwhile, China Copper Mine Assistant General Manager Yu Qi was at pains to explain why workers were being treated to such inhumane conditions.
Yu was however quick to mention that management had taken note of the concerns which would be attended to. Znbc