In the midst of deteriorating occupational health and safety standards in the mining sector, the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has partnered with labor unions to strengthen the call to advance safety for workers.
Partnering with two labor unions, the Zimbabwe Allied Diamond and Mineral Workers Union (ZDAMWU) and the National Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (NMWUZ), the leading research and advocacy organization is capacitating mine workers on their right to a safe working environment.
The CNRG Director, Farai Maguwu speaking during a capacity building meeting, said there should be greater enforcement of labor regulations and laws to enhance compliance from employers.
Human error in valuing the safety of mine workers must be addressed. We need to raise awareness about these tragic deaths among mine workers; this must end. Working in a mine should not be a gamble with life.
“We need better mining standards in the sector. We want to raise a strong voice in the industry to demand workers’ remuneration to meet international and regional standards.”
“Huge fatalities in the sector are a disaster, every two years we are having Kamandama disasters. We need to raise a lamentation about these, and licenses must be withdrawn for guilty mine companies, they must be heavily penalized.”
“Our collaboration with the Zimbabwe Allied Diamond and Mineral Workers Union (ZDAMWU) and the National Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (NMWUZ) is to strengthen the voice of mine unions, in solidarity with the experiences of mine workers,” he said.
Mine workers lamented the deplorable safety standards in the industry, stating that some of them did not get fair compensation from their employers despite continuous exposure to dangerous working conditions.
One mine worker revealed, “Injured workers are getting deductions from their salaries, no sick leave or compensation. We are using poor machinery and mine equipment, including machines without technical safety mechanisms, like brake lights or hooters.”
The Secretary General of NMWUZ, Sylvester Mushaike said foreign investors flocking into the mining sector are not complying with labor laws and occupational health and safety standards thereby exposing workers to accidents.
“We are focused on closing gaps in all employment forms to protect workers. It’s an open secret that mine workers are working without PPE, suffering assault and unsafe conditions from foreign investors in the sector. Health and safety are more important than the peanuts that we are earning.
“Mine workers are enslaved by their fear of the investors. This problem arises when workers are more afraid of dismissal than concerned about their own safety. Workers endure unsafe working conditions, often without regard for their safety. However, they have the right to refuse dangerous working conditions and are legally protected in doing so. Labor unions are prepared to defend workers under such circumstances,” said Mushaike.
ZDAMWU Education and Training Officer, Masocha, said there is low morale within the mining sector because of the low wages that were recently gazetted for mine workers.
Recently, the National Employment Council for mine workers notified employers in a circular dated 18 June 2024, that the lowest mine worker’s salary was to be raised by US$14,20 for the April to June period, from US$355, taking the new minimum wage to US$369,20.
The salary increment falls short of the Poverty Datum Line, which stands at US$575, at a time when the cost of goods and services continues to rise in Zimbabwe. This trend has accelerated despite the introduction of a new currency at the beginning of 2024.
“The industry is saddened by the outcomes of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but nothing is stopping us from renegotiating for better working conditions than the current state of the mining industry,” said Masocha.
“Workers should also engage their respective employers based on their production and outputs for better salaries and working conditions, through their workers’ committees that have the right to engage with their management.”
On the prevalence of fatalities caused by accidents in the mining sector, Masocha said worker committees should be vigilant to ensure injuries and accidents are recorded as the current statistics are not reflective of the actual prevailing situation.
“Employers tend to under report injuries at the workplace to hide unsafe working conditions and workers should be vigilant to ensure that correct statistics are recorded at the workplace.”