EMPLOYEES at Kansanshi Mining Plc who are involved in the production of gold fear that their fertility could be affected by the rigorous infra-red searches they are subjected to every day.
The employees, who did not want to be named, said they are worried that their reproductive systems are under threat because of the unwarranted searches which expose them to radiation.
“We are subjected to searches almost every hour. There are always fears we can steal gold from the plant, so they search us several times,” one miner said.
They complained that even when miners go to answer the call of nature, they are exposed to an infra-red search on all parts of the body.
The workers, who have appealed to Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda to look into their plight, said some categories of workers are not searched or exposed to infra-red radiation.
The gold production unit is kept sacred and no dignitaries or government officials are allowed to tour it, one worker said.
And Government will soon carry out a labour audit on companies which have hired expatriates, to reconfirm the relevance of giving expatriates certain jobs, Labour, Youth and Sport Minister Fackson Shamenda said in Solwezi at the weekend.
The audit is aimed at establishing the qualifications and jobs that expatriates hold.
Mr Shamenda, Vice-President Guy Scott, Foreign Affairs Minister Chishimba Kambwili and Minister of Mines Wybur Simuusa were in Solwezi to ask miners at Kansanshi Mine to return to work after a wildcat strike.
The miners complained that there is a huge gap in conditions of service between them and expatriates.
“We will verify their qualifications and check if the qualifications and skills match,” he said.
Mr Shamenda said Zambia has many qualified professionals who can take up jobs that have been given to expatriates, especially in the mining industry.
HE said his ministry will soon set up a database of workers to ensure that only qualified expatriates are allowed to work in the country.
Mr Shamenda also said there are ‘very serious’ salary disparities between management and unionised workers in most companies in the country.
“The audit will ensure that expatriates doing jobs that Zambians can do are sent away to pave way for locals,” he said.
Mr Shamenda also said the ministry of labour will engage qualified Zambians, including those in the diaspora, to take up jobs that will be left by some expatriates who are not qualified.
He also said that government will not tolerate any investors abusing Zambian workers.
Mr Shamenda also bemoaned the high levels of casualisation of labour in mining companies, saying the Ministry of Labour will review labour laws to resolve the problem.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
AND SOME COMPLAINTS WHICH AROSE ON FRIDAY WHEN THE VICE PRESIDENT WENT ADDRESS STRIKE ISSUES WERE THAT WORKERS ARE CALLED ALL SORTS OF NAMES BY THE SAME EMPLOYERS AND TREATED LIKE KIDS. THIS IS OUR COUNTRY AND WE PRIDE IN IT. HOW CAN A FOREIGNER CREEP IN AND BEGIN TO CASTIGATE US ON OUR OWN LAND?
WHY IS IT THAT DIGNITARIES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE GOLD PLANT? AND WHO ARE THOSE DIGNITARIES? NOT IN THE PF ERA, WE WILL ADDRESS THAT!
WE NEED TO REPRODUCTION AS WE ARE THE X GENERATIONS, SO PLEASE STOP SUBJECTING OUR MEN TO SUCH RADIATIONS. AM PLANING TO HAVE KA KID IN THE NEXT 2YEARS AND WHO KNOWS, MY MAN COULD BE ONE OF THEM.
Only X-rays and gamma rays are risks to human health. Infra-red, cellphones and other radiation of high wave-length are safe. What the employees can do is get documentation from the manufacturers of the equipment as well as use a third party to verify the safety of the equipment. But as far as infra-red is concerned, that is safe.
its so embarrassing to note that back home my brothers and sisters are treated like that when here, we are not even allowed to work as students because we are foreigners and yet we hold the qualifications and some one who holds nothing works because he is a foreign, lets get real
Mr Shamenda, actions speak louder than words; we the people that supported you need actions and less announcements; if you have not done it, dont say anything now because you PF will go faster than MMD if you do not perform. People are enlightenend about changing governments.
I thought these guys promised to chase all ‘infestors’ once in power?
Stone age here we come!
Rubbish, they want to avoid searches so that they can steal gold.
true, you are right,Ba Kabokes have been caught out no funny business
These miners need to be clear what their concern is. Is it danger from IR radiation or they want to negotiate for salaries and want to boot out expatriates? It is unfair to the employer to mix the two issues and present them as one. This makes it difficult to solve because different skills are required for the two problems. Good luck
Give our minister a shave and a good bath to start with.
Action speaks louder than words, let unqualified expatriates be sent away and Zambians take up these jobs at the mine and many other companies.
Mamama that would be suicide there would be rampant thefts
Mwine mushi stop behaving like a child am sure you have never worked in the mines so you dont know what goes on here. We miners are here to work and not to steal like the way you do yourself. You are a selfish Zambian, uli njipaishi iwe mune.
Infrared is emitted by all bodies that are warm, I am sure these full don’t understand they they are subject to infrared cameras, Not emmiters
This is the some technology that Big Brother uses on its cameras.
If infrared was that dangerous then we are all DEAD because the sun emmites million of it
STUPID ZAMBIANS
Bwana Labour Minister, You should also check on companies that call themselves Zambian Companies, you will be shocked to see the desparities, Take for instance Zambeef.
Uncle Shamenda ,you have have always been promising things since you were appointed and up to now were are waiting for the minimum wage bill how far sir? May be a shave to start with can also do since the best you can do is to promise -no action at all .Youths this is your minister and if you are expecting jobs creation from these guys I’m afraid to say you voted for the wrong guys. More money in their pockets and the chilkdren’s.
I am not a supporter of pf and i don’t support most of their programs but on this one, i have no choice but to give Shamenda 100% pass. His performance on this issue was second to non. It’s a first time in years we saw a Government Minister on the side of the workers. The credit also goes to Provincial Minister Limata,North-Western PS and His Honour the Vice President.
The company should immediately seize their practices, and the state should yank their license of they don’t.
Then, if there is statistical evidence of higher levels of cancer or other disease among employees of Kansanshi, the company should be held completely liable for the healthcare needs of their former employees.
That will make them think twice. The health of workers may never be sacrificed for profit. This is also a consumer rights issue.
It is time to start putting the health of workers first.
Frankly, Mr. K it is nonsense to suggest that a gold company should immediately cease (not seize) its security procedures. They may as well stop operating and fire everyone since the workers would seize all the gold and profits!
Else, you are right – such a policy certainly would make the company think twice….. think twice about investing in Zambia.
Health and safety, yes – reactionary nonsense that makes Zambia an unpredictable and unnecessarily expensive place to do business, no!
I have always wondered why the government complains about expatriates doing jobs that could be done by Zambians. It is the government that issues employment permits, so the question is, why do they issue such permits? Is there corruption somewhere?
#16 Citizen: Well put! The other issue is I am not sure if any rigour has gone into understanding what our current skills base is, what it ought to be in order to achieve the lofty prosperity in the future that we all desire and what we should do about it. For instance, ever since the demise of ZCCM I have alwas wondered whether we are training the correct calibre of artisans let alone all those other skills that are needed for a country to truly participate in a global world….Of course operationally it is ok to complain about expatriates as we have done since the times of Zambianisation…BUT the strategic issue is the indigenous skills we have and the indigenous skills we need…
Maria @2.Thats a good observation and thanks for educating us.This is the information that workers in various work environments that are considered hazardous need to know.
MR SHAMENDA PLIZ DO SOMETHING,OTHER WISE YOU ARE LIKELY TO LOSE POPULALITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,DONT JUST TALK BUT REACT NOW!THERE ARE ALOT OF FAKE EXPATRIETS THAT ARE IN KANSANSHI MINE,EVEN OUR FELLOW AFRICANS GHANANIANS ARE BENEFITING FROM OUR MINE.THESE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE GONE BY NOW FOR 116 DAYS YOU HAVE RULED THIS COUNTRY AS PF,BUT YOU HAVE TAKEN SO LONG,IT IS LONG OVER DUE.
Shamenda is full of talk and no action. His boss told him to get back to him in 7 days on the minimum wage, nothing, nil, noto noto, todate. All that he has raised are valid points that need action like yesterday, but do you expect results from this one? What a minister!
What are these miners complaining about? We have always had semi-skilled expatriates working in the mines, even during ZCCM. The thing is that Zambian workers will not respect a black supervisor and will only listen to a white man or other. Who is to blame for that? Why should things change now? We Africans have ourselves to blame because we fail to cooperate. Let the new owners of the mines operate without interference. Govt should collect enough taxes and use the money to train people, develop local communities and perhaps improve the work culture. Do not kill the duck that lays the golden egg, because we will end up with nothing.
This is standard gold security production procedure all around the world. The other reality is Zambia does not have the skills levels to operate these mines be it at graduate or diploma level. The current graduate and diplomates produced from local colleges and universities are simply useless for lack of a better word.
Shamenda has become a tourist now,that man use to talk much sense then he was in the opposition but now is a chakolwa of power,where is the minimum wage dicussion,you talked much on this issue but look now you are so quiet and you don’t even care since you are paid and your family is safe.My friend,power is sweet,the thing you all seem to forget is that the sweeter the power the more you are likely to neglect the poor people who voted for you and have much hope of seen that bright day in you.We the youth are slowly losing faith and hope in this PF Government,we erected these individuals to look at the plight of the poor ,sick,youth,unemployement,job creation,sanitation,road network,education and not forgetting justice.Let me remind you ministers and GRZ officials WE ARE WATCHING YOU!!!
# 22,you sound like a frastrated certificate holder.I wonder what engineering you are practicing there in Australia or u are just sweeping the streets. Pa ZED, BEng walikaba.